JARRAD Redden has been trusted as the solo ruckman on several occasions already this year but he faces a huge test this weekend against the Western Bulldogs' Will Minson.

Minson is one of the form ruckmen in the AFL, averaging a career and League-high 40 hit-outs a game in 2013.

At 205cm Redden is taller, but Minson's a monster – weighing in at 108kg.

He's one of the strongest in the business.

With the Power keen on playing John Butcher, coach Ken Hinkley said it would be highly unlikely second ruckman Matthew Lobbe would play on Saturday night.

That means Redden would have to face Minson effectively on his own.

A bumper pre-season may have the 22-year-old in the shape of his life, but he still admitted he was in for a tough night.

"I see Minson the same as everyone else – he is one of the best in the game at the moment," Redden told AFL.com.au.

"I've played against him last year as well, he's a very strong ruckman and he's not too bad around the ground as well.

"He uses his body well, so strong and I find I'm a reasonably similar ruckman – I try and use my body as well and hopefully over the pre-season I've built a bit of strength there.

 

"It'll be a massive test for me to equal the hitouts, but [to] just cause a contest in there."

Despite being drafted to the Power with pick No. 54 at the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, injury has kept Redden to just 14 games.

Senior assistant Alan Richardson told AFL.com.au earlier in the year he believed Redden had the potential to "follow a similar path" to Adelaide's Sam Jacobs, who blossomed into one of the AFL's best in 2012.

Under high performance manger Darren Burgess, Redden said his fitness was now at a level that enabled him to comfortably carry out the duties of a solo ruckman.

"Over the last few years the main problem in my game has been my fitness and I finally feel like I've had a pretty good pre-season and built a base big enough to get me through most games," he said.

"It's still great to have the second ruck there as well when 'Lobes' (Matthew Lobbe) or 'Roofy's' (Brent Renouf) playing – to have that helping hand – but it's good the coaches have enough trust in me to take that number one spot."

The draining conditions of Darwin are bound to test Redden's fitness levels, with players to make use of cool rooms during breaks.

The Power have experienced playing in heat already this year after fighting out NAB Cup games in blistering South Australian conditions.

Redden said that experience, as well as arriving in the top end early to acclimatise, would hold the Power in the best possible stead on Saturday night.