JOHN Butcher won't have to kick a bag against Greater Western Sydney to impress Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on Sunday, he'll need only hit packs with intensity.
The 25-year-old will play his first game of the season against the Giants as a replacement for the injured Charlie Dixon and Hinkley said Butcher should try to replicate the sort of effort the former Sun has shown in 2016.
The big forward has enjoyed a successful move from Gold Coast to the Power and, while he'll miss this weekend with an ankle injury, he has avoided the injury concerns that plagued his time with the Suns.
Butcher has been prolific at SANFL level over the past month, booting 14 goals, but Hinkley said he was more concerned with the contests he can impact than the majors he can slot.
"John's worked incredibly hard, he's stayed really positive. Charlie came to the club so that took away an opportunity for him and Schulzy got back probably just at the wrong time for John," Hinkley said.
"Now he's got his opportunity through Charlie's misfortune - I'm sure he'll make the most of it.
"It's easy for John, he's only got to watch Charlie because we're not talking about kicking lots of goals we're talking about creating contests and helping our small forwards.
"That's all we ask of him - bring his effort."
As well as Butcher's return, key midfielders Brad Ebert and Jared Polec will also face the Giants with Karl Amon and Jake Neade making way.
Ebert missed last weekend's win against North Melbourne with a bruised lung, while Polec has been offered a chance at redemption after being dropped for the second time this season following the club's three-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 12.
"We're about to find out [whether he's got the message]," Hinkley said.
"Jared's been really positive about what he needs to do and what he's trying to do … the boys want him in the team, we know he's a significant part when he's playing well.
"But it's simple, just come in and play your role and do the things that you need to do and help us win."
Both Polec and Ebert will play crucial roles in a midfield Hinkley described as "incredibly brave".
Port remains an outside finals chance but will have to beat the Giants and hope North Melbourne loses to Collingwood to close the gap on the eighth-placed Kangaroos.
"The midfield's been, I think, incredibly brave the way they've gone about it," Hinkley said.
"'Jacko's' (Trengove) trying his heart out in the ruck but with ruck hit-outs going against you as badly as they do, as I said I think our midfield's learnt a lot this season and they get an opportunity to see how it goes against a really top-end midfield this week.
"[The hope of playing finals is] still there, it's possible, but as I said last week, the only thing we can control is our next opponent … we've got to look forward to Sunday afternoon and know the size of the challenge.
"It's another top-eight opponent that we get a chance to come up against and see how we go."
