THE ‘experimentation’ is over, the senior players are back and Port Adelaide is determined to have a ‘real hit-out’ against Fremantle at Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga on Saturday afternoon.

The forecast for Adelaide on Saturday is for a sweltering 38 degrees, but the hot weather is not expected to prevent either side from playing a high-intensity first-half.

The AFL has organised mobile cool rooms for the game and has also given both teams permission to play 25 players per side to help negotiate the overall length of the game.

Power coach Mark Williams was cautious of the heat at training on Friday, telling his players to get out of the sun and into the pool after the sharp 45-minute session.

Assistant coach Matthew Primus said both the Power and Fremantle were committed to playing a “normal” first half in preparation for round one.

“It’s going to be particularly hot, but we’ve trained in this heat for the last week,” he said.

“We’ll look after the guys on Saturday and the AFL are putting in some ice vans for us and we’ll be running extra drinks. We might have more of a break at half time, but until then we’ll try to play the game as normal as possible with the normal 22 players and rotations.

“After halftime we’ll see how the players are going and if its still 38 degrees out there we might change it around a bit, but in the first half we want to have a real hit-out.”

Both sides have named near full-strength teams for the final NAB Challenge clash before the season proper kicks off in 13 days time.

“Saturday’s hit-out we’ll be as serious as they come,” Primus said.

“Freo are bringing over as good a team as they can for a game down at Noarlunga and everyone who is available for us, who we think is in our best 22 or 23, is playing.

“We’re taking it as serious as we can and the first half will be flat out like it will be in round one.”

The Power will be without injured trio Dean Brogan (abdominal strain), Troy Chaplin (broken hand) and Michael Wilson (achilles) on Saturday. Wilson is likely to miss the first half of the season while Brogan and Chaplin are due for a round one return.

Primus said the coaching staff was yet to finalise a handful of places in the side for the round one grand final rematch with Geelong.

“There are probably three or four guys, of the guys who are available to play, that we are undecided on and then there’s Troy Chaplin, Dean Brogan and those guys who were not quite sure if they’ll be available for round one fitness-wise. All up there are probably five to six places that we’re still tossing up,” Primus said.

“There are probably seven or eight guys in contention for those five or six spots, so competition is pretty tight.

“In the first half we’re expecting a lot of guys to put their hand up and say ‘yep I’m right to go against Geelong’ Thursday-week.”

“Brogan and Chaplin look like they’re going to be pretty close to being ready for that game. The rest of the guys are 100 per cent, so if they don’t prove themselves to us over the next two weeks and the guys who get their chance tomorrow have a good game- its going to be pretty tough for them.”

In the mix for round one selection are highly regarded 2006 draftee Paul Stewart, impressive young ruckman Fabian Deluca and explosive new recruit Marlon Motlop.

With Matt Thomas likely to play more of a midfield role this season, the door is open for Stewart, Motlop and also Nick Lower, to fill Wilson’s spot at halfback.

“Stewart has played the last three games down in the back line and I know Kingers [Adam Kingsley] will be looking for him to show a bit more on top of what he has showed so far,” Primus said.

“Stewart and Motlop are both around the mark. Obviously Stewart is because he’s played the last three games and with Chaplin’s injury there’s certainly a spot there for him.

“Stewie has the ability to play on a tall or a small forward and he has good agility. He likes to run with the ball and if we can get more of that, along with the likes of Peter Burgoyne and Jacob Surjan, it can only be good for us.”