PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Shaun Burgoyne is confident the seven changes made to his side will not make a dramatic difference to the team's balance ahead of their meeting with the Western Bulldogs in Darwin on Saturday night.

The Power were forced to make five changes due to injury and suspension and dropped a further two players from the team that lost to Richmond by four points last weekend, but Burgoyne believes the inclusions are capable of filling the void.

"It's something you don't really do most weeks but five of those were injuries and forced changes," Burgoyne said.

"The club thought with Brendon [Lade] and Michael [Wilson], to give an opportunity for a couple of younger players to play and see what they're made of.

"You would think it will affect [the balance] a bit but the players from the SANFL have been playing very well and performing for a number of weeks.

"We're pretty confident those guys can come in and have an impact on the game and not just make up the numbers."

Peter Burgoyne (hamstring), Steven Salopek (achilles), Chad Cornes (calf), Travis Boak (groin) and Matt Thomas (suspended) were all unavailable for selection while experienced duo Michael Wilson and Brendon Lade were both omitted.

Greg Bentley, Fabian Deluca, Nathan Lonie, Paul Stewart, Adam Thomson, Justin Westhoff and Damon White have been named as their replacements.

Last weekend, Port coach Mark Williams declared the club's season all but over after its loss to the Tigers at AAMI Stadium.

Burgoyne said the statement had not had a negative effect on the playing group, and that the side will continue to focus on the season one round at time.

"He just expressed his opinion as he thought it was," Burgoyne said.

"We're not looking too far ahead. The finals are nine, 10 weeks away. We've got to concentrate on the Bulldogs this week and play some consistent footy and get a win on the board.

"The finals are the furthest thing from our mine, and I think it's the furthest thing from the Bulldogs' mind.

"It's one week at a time you take it, and we'll go into next week with the weekend off and we'll assess the first half of the year and make some changes and address what we need to work on for the second half."

Port Adelaide returns to the Top End with a 2-0 record at TIO Stadium, with both wins coming over the Bulldogs in 2004 and 2006.

The side also travels with four players, including Burgoyne, Daniel Motlop, Marlon Motlop and Tom Logan, possessing strong Darwin connections, having either originated from the Northern Territory capital or having lived there.

"It's very important for us," Burgoyne said, when asked what it's like to face a game in such familiar surroundings.

"We don't get a chance to come back and visit our families up here, so it's a good chance to visit them and also come and play.

"The Northern Territory is a great place to come and play footy because it's pretty cold down south and it's nice and warm up here."