CHARLIE Dixon and Justin Westhoff will continue to share Port Adelaide's ruck duties in the absence of All Australian big man Paddy Ryder.
Dixon was instrumental in the Power's second-half fightback that led to a superb 23-point victory against Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
The 27-year-old key forward finished the game with a career-high 32 hit-outs after doing the majority of the ruck work in the second half.
"Big Charlie really stood up this week in that role, he took most of the ruck work, which is another string to his bow," Westhoff told AFL.com.au.
"With Paddy going down it leaves a pretty big hole for the midfield group.
"I chipped in a little bit, but Charlie really got the game back on our terms in the midfield and a little bit of dominance in the ruck, so that really gives us another aspect with guys that can play through the ruck.
"We're just keeping the spot warm for Paddy when he comes back.
"As long as we can keep that going, and give the midfield a bit of a chance, we'll do that."
Ryder is expected to miss another four-to-five weeks with an Achilles tendon injury.
Dixon led the Power's goal-kicking last season with 49 goals, but they found other avenues to goal while he was in the ruck.
Youngster Todd Marshall booted three and Chad Wingard, Travis Boak and Jared Polec kicked two each against the Swans.
The Power planned for the 1.99m Westhoff to be the lead ruckman, but flipped the script with the game in the balance at half-time.
Whether that continues for Saturday's clash with Brisbane at Adelaide Oval remains to be seen.
"Probably depending on the match ups, it'll be me or him at the moment doing the majority," Westhoff said.
"Charlie's pretty potent up forward as well, so we'll play that by ear.
"It gives us a few options, so that's good."
At 31, Westhoff is arguably playing some of the best football of his 228-game career.
He's averaging 26 possessions per game through the first two rounds, and while it's a small sample size, that's a huge increase on his previous best of 19.2 set last year.
"I feel like I'm chipping in where I need to," he said.
"The whole group has stepped up and it makes a few guys' roles easier.
"They can do their own thing and don't need to do a special thing to win the game."
