PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been around footy long enough to sense the danger.
He's wary of a wet slog against an injury-hit opponent when the Power host Richmond on Saturday night.
With a bleak forecast at Adelaide Oval, and Port in a ladder logjam, Hinkley is on alert despite the Tigers languishing in last place with just two wins.
"It's a transitional period for them as a football club," Hinkley said of the Tigers and first-year coach Adem Yze.
"Adem has come in and he's new and there's a lot of change that has gone on at Richmond this year."
But Hinkley pointed to the Tigers' wins this season as reason for Port to be worried.
"They have won over here in Adelaide (against the Crows)," he said.
"They have beaten Sydney – there's some great scalps.
"They have got their own issues with injuries, we have had a lot of injuries.
"You have just got to be ready for their absolute best. And the conditions we may come up against may really suit the way Richmond play."
Port enters the round in ninth spot – one win away from second and a win ahead of 13th.
But Hinkley has lost a quartet of players: key forward Todd Marshall (hip), utility Jeremy Finlayson, who will miss the rest of the season because of a ruptured spleen, Lachie Jones (concussion) and Kane Farrell (hamstring).
Hinkley summoned Esava Ratugolea, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams and is particularly pleased goalsneak Willie Rioli returns.
"Pretty damn excited, if I can be honest, I'm really excited for him to be out there enjoying playing footy," Hinkley said.
"That is really important to remember, that's where Willie is probably at his happiest, when he's out there playing footy.
"And we're certainly at our happiest when we have got him out there playing for us. He's an incredibly important player to us and we have really missed him."
Rioli hasn't played since a round 12 calf injury, followed by illness and then personal issues.
The Tigers' theme of injury disruption also continued with experienced trio Tim Taranto (concussion), Nick Vlastuin (back), and Jack Graham (hip) all sidelined.
Yze has recalled Seth Campbell, Thomson Dow and Kaleb Smith for the trip to Adelaide.
