GEELONG’S powerful ruck combination which dominated the 2007 Toyota AFL Grand Final will be nowhere to be seen in Thursday night’s rematch against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

While Steven King was traded to St Kilda just days after the triumph, All-Australian ruckman Brad Ottens has been ruled out with an ankle injury that coach Mark Thompson has confirmed will keep the ex-Tiger sidelined until early next week.

Stepping into the void will be the man King replaced on the day, Mark Blake, as well as the raw Trent West, who comes in for his first senior game.

However, Skilled Stadium has been buzzing with the talk that West, 20, could become a regular player at senior level by the end of the year after an impressive pre-season was added to a solid year in Geelong’s premiership-winning VFL team.

South Australian forward Ryan Gamble will make just his second senior appearance, named alongside Tom Hawkins in the forward pocket after showing real promise during the NAB Cup.

Pacy midfielder Kane Tenace fought off stiff opposition from Brent Prismall and David Johnson for the final spot in the 22.

At Port Adelaide, they’ve named a mixture of youth and experience for a match coach Mark Williams admits he’d dearly love to win after the Power’s humiliation in the decider last year.

20-year old defender Paul Stewart, taken with pick 23 in the 2006 draft, steps up for his first game after a strong summer where he featured in all four of the Power’s outings.

After being displaced by Darryl Wakelin for last year’s preliminary final, Alipate Carlile has been earmarked as the now-retired Wakelin’s replacement, with the Fijian-born defender named at full-back.

Unlucky trio Greg Bentley, Nick Lower and Fabian DeLuca have been named as emergencies, despite all three playing in every NAB Cup/Challenge game.