NATHAN Krakouer's time to repay the club he walked out on in 2010 has arrived, with the rookie defender upgraded to play for Port Adelaide against North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Krakouer played 40 games for the Power between 2007 and 2010 before joining Gold Coast for its inaugural 2011 season in the AFL, only to retire from the game after 13 matches.

After two years on the outer he returned to Alberton in hope of resurrecting an AFL career.

His discipline and dedication to training saw him play for the Magpies in the 2014 SANFL Grand Final and then drafted as a rookie to the Power in December.

He was elevated onto the senior list on Wednesday night and coach Ken Hinkley said he'd play against the Kangaroos.

“It’s been a long journey and now I get another chance at it,” Krakouer told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“Kenny told me yesterday and I was pretty surprised, but really happy.

“I think people that know me, what I’ve had to do and how hard it was, can see how much it means.

“For me, I’m just caught up in the moment, and I probably won’t really appreciate the sort of work it takes to get back to AFL until I’m older, for me I just need to play my role on Saturday and enjoy the opportunity.”

Although he was offered limited game time, Krakouer impressed during the NAB Challenge.

His SANFL form was brilliant in the club's round one win over South Adelaide too, gathering 23 possessions and booting two goals.

Krakouer replaces the injured Jarman Impey.

Impey was subbed out of Port's home loss last Saturday night with a strained hamstring.

Meanwhile, veteran midfielder Kane Cornes will miss Saturday's clash.

The 32-year-old is being managed throughout the season and is expected to return for the Anzac Day game against Hawthorn in round four. 

"Kane and I have had really good conversations right through the pre-season - almost from the end of last season, really - about this year of football for him," Hinkley told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"One of the things we talked about was managing the most amount of football from him as we possibly could, at the highest standard possible.

"We're very mindful that in those decisions, you have to put things in place at a point where you just have to back them in and go with them, that's what we've done here with Kane.

"We expect Kane to come back into the side next week, no problems at all, but we are managing and controlling the loads he has this year."