PORT Adelaide has made a late change for Friday night’s semi-final against Hawthorn.

Veteran key forward Charlie Dixon failed a fitness test on Adelaide Oval less than two hours before the first bounce.

The Queenslander has been dealing with illness and is the latest out, following Ryan Burton's failed fitness test on Thursday.

Will Lorenz has come into the 23 for just his second game.

The Victorian has been rewarded after a strong block in the SANFL for the Port Magpies, after averaging 25.6 disposals across his past five games.

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST 
LATE CHANGES
Port Adelaide: Charlie Dixon (illness) replaced in selected side by Will Lorenz
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Will Lorenz
Hawthorn: Luke Breust

SUMMARY

The pressure is on Port Adelaide as it seeks to avoid a second consecutive straight sets exit, but it won't be easy against a Hawthorn side that fears no one. 

The Power get another chance after they were comprehensively beaten by Geelong in the qualifying final, while the Hawks show rolled on with an impressive 37-point elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs.

The two sides have met just once this season, resulting in a come-from-behind one-point win for Port Adelaide back in round 10. But the Hawks are a completely different proposition now and will head over to Adelaide full of belief after winning 12 of 14 games since that time.

The Hawks have made just one change with youngster Jai Serong replacing Sam Frost, who has undergone season-ending foot surgery. Will Day and Cam Mackenzie weren't considered due to injury. Port, meanwhile, has brought in Todd Marshall to try to stretch the Hawks' defence, with Josh Sinn the other inclusion for Ryan Burton (calf) and Jed McEntee.

Where and when: Adelaide Oval, Friday September 13, 7.10pm ACST

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Round 10: Port Adelaide 11.14 (80) beat Hawthorn 12.7 (79) at Adelaide Oval

Despite trailing by 41 points in the third quarter, Port Adelaide orchestrated the most epic of comebacks to snatch a one-point victory in the dying stages. Still staring at an 11-point deficit with less than 30 seconds on the clock, Willie Rioli kicked a goal for Port before Darcy Byrne-Jones soccered the ball through from a tight angle to score the match-winner with a mere two seconds remaining. Zak Butters (31 disposals) and Jason Horne-Francis (27, two goals) were outstanding for the Power, while Hawthorn's Blake Hardwick kicked a career-high five-goals.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

Port Adelaide
There were a number of worrying signs for Port Adelaide against Geelong, but none moreso than its work around the stoppages with the Power conceding 75 points from clearance chains - their third-most since 2010. Of that 75, Port gave up 66 points from clearances where Jordon Sweet was contesting the ruck, while scoring just 3.3 themselves. They say bad kicking is bad football, and Port isn't winning this game unless they can straighten up in front of the big sticks. The Power's shot at goal accuracy sits at 42.5 per cent this season, ranking them dead last in the competition.

Hawthorn
Whether it's in the air or on the ground, the Hawks' incredible ability to move the ball quickly generates more inside 50s than any other side. In its last four games, Hawthorn has won the inside 50 count by 21.5 per game, ranking it No.1 in the League. Their quick ball movement is the catalyst, with the Hawks opting to play on from a mark 25.5 per cent of the time  (ranked No.1 in the League) while they've lost the groundballs just three times all season, winning that stat by nine per game (also ranked No.1).

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR ...

Port Adelaide
Port's band of small defenders. The Power were comprehensively beaten in most areas in the qualifying final, but it was down back where they were hurt the most. Port's defence had no answers as the Cats' small forwards got off the chain and effectively did as they pleased to kick the bulk of their side's goals. The Power's task doesn't get any easier against the Hawks, with the likes of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and 300-gamer Luke Breust roaming about their forward line. 

Hawthorn
He can certainly talk the talk, but can Jack Ginnivan walk the walk? Ginnivan's 'See you in 14 days' comment on Swan - and ex-Magpie - Brodie Grundy's Instagram certainly raised some eyebrows, and while it was just some cheeky banter between former teammates, Port players and fans will be ready for him. Ginnivan was serviceable against the Western Bulldogs, finishing with 15 touches and a goal, but the enigmatic forward would want to put in a big one if he will, indeed, see his former teammates in a week's time.

PREDICTION

History says sides respond in the semi-final after being on the wrong end of a qualifying final belting, but we're not sure that will be the case this time. Hawthorn entered the finals series as one of the form sides in the premiership race, and its dismantling of an equally red-hot Western Bulldogs last week was impressive. Can the 'Hollywood Hawks' continue their fairytale run? You betcha. Hawks by 21 points.

PORT Adelaide has survived a late Hawthorn charge to secure one of the club's great finals wins, booking a preliminary final against Sydney at the SCG after winning a classic semi-final by three points on Friday night.

The Power stared down their critics after an 84-point beating a week earlier and lifted themselves off the canvas in a backs-to-the-wall triumph for coach Ken Hinkley, winning 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72).

POWER v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

They held firm in some desperate final moments after Hawthorn skipper James Sicily hit the post with a long-range set shot that would have given his team a two-point lead, with Esava Ratugolea intercepting a final flurry forward from the Hawks.

It was a thrilling final from start to finish that came with a post-script as Power coach Hinkley and Sicily exchanged tense words after the siren as the teams lined up in a guard of honour for 300-gamer Luke Breust.

The win sends the Power into a fourth preliminary final under Hinkley, taking them one win away from a first-ever Grand Final under the coach, who would have faced intense pressure to retain his job if the Power had instead exited in straight sets.

The win also represents their first finals win against the Hawks, following losses in the preliminary final of 2014 and semi-final of 2001, which were both also decided by three points.

Port's win was built on pressure and a relentless commitment to the contest with effort after effort as their midfield stars stood up along young guns that announced themselves in a do-or-die final.

Jase Burgoyne (25 disposals and a goal) was outstanding in a half-back role alongside Logan Evans (22 and four rebound 50s), while Willie Rioli (15 and two goals) was electric in the front half. 

Young key forward Mitch Georgiades kicked a team-high three goals, while Jason Horne-Francis was a constant threat bursting forward from stoppages until cramping in the fourth quarter and spending time forward.

Vice-captain Zak Butters delivered in a physical final after being substituted last week with bruised ribs, handling attention but also laying eight crunching tackles himself.

All eyes were on how the Power would start after a week of fierce criticism and they could hardly have responded better, bringing a ferocious approach to the contest and immediately putting the Hawks on the back foot.

Port dominated the early stoppages and laid a flurry of crunching tackles, with captain Connor Rozee setting an early benchmark when he combined with Willie Rioli to win a holding the ball free kick and kick the opening goal.

The Power tall forwards also looked threatening after a poor recent patch, and Rioli was involved again to set up Todd Marshall for the team's second goal as Port went to the first break with a 13-point lead after holding Hawthorn to its lowest first quarter score since round two.

Mitch Georgiades made that 19 points when Jason Horne-Francis found him on the lead, with the Power starting to capitalise on their territory dominance after some missed opportunities.

It was only a matter of time until Hawthorn had its turn with the momentum, however, and a pair of dubious dangerous tackle decisions gave them the chance to strike.

Mabior Chol and Dylan Moore were the players who benefited from the calls against Lachie Jones and Jase Burgoyne respectively, with a 50m penalty for dissent also taking Moore to the goal line to make certain of his opportunity and cutting the margin to four points.

The Power steadied to see out an exhilarating half with a nine-point buffer after Rioli kicked a goal out of mid-air with one second on the clock.

The third quarter belonged to the Hawks as they got their first lead for the game following back-to-back goals from young sensation Nick Watson, who finished with a team-high three majors.

Breust enjoyed his moment late in the quarter when he converted a set shot in his milestone game, cutting the margin to five points and setting up the thrilling final term.

Burgoyne and Horne-Francis both kicked crucial goals in the last quarter to hold off the Hawks' momentum, while Georgiades kicked a clutch set shot.

The Hawks will rue late misses when they were charging, but the Power's pressure late was as ferocious as it was early to make sure they secured a magnificent win. 

Heated finish as coach and captain exchange words
There were a messy few moments that came in the minutes after the siren as Hinkley got involved in an exchange with Sicily, who appeared to be stepping in to defend young teammate Jack Ginnivan. The exchange continued as Sicily lifted triple-premiership Hawk Luke Breust to chair him off after his 300th game. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell defended Sicily after the game and said the captain had led in that moment in a way he could be proud of, while not being drawn on Hinkley's own conduct while appearing frustrated.

Butters handles the heat (and brings it)
The question coming in on Friday night was whether Port Adelaide star Zak Butters would be able to handle the physicality of a final after being substituted last week with rib damage. The answer after four quarters was a resounding yes, and it had as much to do with the physicality he dished out himself, laying eight big tackles. He had started on the bench but made a quick impact once injected and finished with 17 disposals (nine contested) and four clearances. While those numbers were down on his usual output, the vice-captain found a way to make an impact, regardless of what it took to get through.

Young wingman with a big future
It was 12 months ago when Ken Hinkley called Jase Burgoyne after his exit meeting and told him he would need to put in the work if he wanted to wear the club's famous No.7, which was worn in a Power premiership by the young wingman's father Peter. The work was done over the summer, the No.7 was awarded, and the 21-year-old announced himself on the big stage with an outstanding final at half-back. Burgoyne was courageous in the air, composed with his disposal, and delivered in a big moment when he had the chance to snap a fourth-quarter goal that proved critical in the final result.

PORT ADELAIDE          2.3   5.6   7.8   11.9 (75)
HAWTHORN                0.2   4.3   7.3   11.6 (72)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Rioli 2, Burgoyne, Horne-Francis, Marshall, Rozee
Hawthorn: Watson 3, Ginnivan 2, Breust, Chol, Dear, Maginness, Moore, Sicily

BEST
Port Adelaide: Burgoyne, Rioli, Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Jones, Evans, Zerk-Thatcher, Sweet
Hawthorn: Scrimshaw, Newcombe, Watson, Worpel, Sicily, Morrison

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Port Adelaide: Charlie Dixon (illness) replaced in the selected side by Will Lorenz
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Will Lorenz (replaced Todd Marshall in the fourth quarter)
Hawthorn: Luke Breust (replaced Jack Gunston in the third quarter)

Crowd: 51,012 at Adelaide Oval