PORT Adelaide has suffered a major blow ahead of its blockbuster clash with Fremantle with ruckman Matthew Lobbe withdrawn from the team due to quad tightness.
Young key forward John Butcher has been included for his first game since round three last season.
The 22-year-old had a strong pre-season culminating in a five-goal haul against Adelaide in the final NAB Challenge match.
Lobbe's withdrawal means that ex-Bomber Patrick Ryder will have to shoulder most of the ruck duties on his Port Adelaide debut after not playing any minutes during the NAB Challenge due to the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing into the 34 past and present Essendon players.
Former Bomber Angus Monfries has been named as Port's substitute after also missing the entire pre-season.
Matt de Boer has been named as Fremantle's substitute.
