PORT Adelaide will throw in seldom-used forward John Butcher for his first senior game of the season against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

Butcher will fill the large boots of injured star Charlie Dixon for the Adelaide Oval encounter, which is a must-win clash for both sides.

It will be Butcher's first senior appearance of the year and just his 29th overall since being drafted in 2011.

Power assistant coach Garry Hocking said on Wednesday Butcher had done everything asked of him with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL to earn his opportunity.

"John's been able to show the past three or four weeks his ability to give us a contest, hit the scoreboard and provide other people in the forward line to score,'' Hocking said.

''He hasn't whinged, he's gone about doing what he had to do at the Magpies for Chad (Magpies coach Chad Cornes).

"You'll see an excited player out there on Sunday.''

Butcher played five games for the Power last year, including the final four, to retain his place on the senior list.

Dixon's absence is a massive blow to the ninth-placed Power, who are two wins behind North Melbourne in the race for the final spot in the top eight.

The Gold Coast recruit has kicked 30 goals this season as part of a multi-pronged forward line alongside Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard.

It's unclear when Dixon will return after he injured his ankle in the last quarter of last weekend's win against North Melbourne.

"It's a high ankle sprain, so we're just waiting for more clarity on the injury,'' Hocking said.

''We know he'll miss this week.

''We're just waiting for the swelling to clear.''

In better news, Power vice-captain Brad Ebert trained strongly on Wednesday and is expected to slot back into the side.

Ebert suffered a bruised lung in the Power's loss to Hawthorn a fortnight ago.