PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has been quick to dismiss any suggestion star Adelaide forward Taylor Walker could cross Port Road and join the Power.

 

Walker will fall out of contract at West Lakes next season along with Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane.

 

Rumours circulating in Adelaide proposed the Power would offer the star forward a deal worth $1.3m a season to join the Crows' arch rival in 2016.

 

But Hinkley laughed, before predicting Walker would remain exactly where he was.

 

"He's a very good player, I know that, I'm sure 'Sando' (Brenton Sanderson) would like to keep him in Adelaide colours … they don't move, it just doesn't happen," Hinkley said.

 

"That's paper talk, it's press talk – it's not factual.

 

"It's good for people to talk about but 'Tex' is not coming to Port Adelaide, I reckon he's playing at Adelaide.

 

"If we've got something to talk about we actually tell you people (media) and we tell our players as well, we don't go and play little games and secrets."

 

Port will make one change to the side that lost to Fremantle last weekend for its elimination final clash against Richmond on Sunday.

 

Small defender Jarman Impey will be replaced by the more versatile defender Cam O'Shea.

 

Hinkley said the move was purely structurally based, with O'Shea able to handle a greater range of forwards than Impey.

 

The Tigers enter the game overflowing with confidence on the back of nine-straight wins.

 

Included in that stretch of victories was their 20-point success over Port in round 17 at Etihad Stadium.

 

The game severely dented the Power's hopes of finishing inside the top four.

 

Importantly, though, Port was without key defenders Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile for that encounter.

 

The pair has since returned from ankle and hamstring injuries, adding experience, versatility and stability to the club's line-up.

 

Hinkley said their presence was felt not just deep in defence, but through each line right into attack.

 

"We did have Carlile and Trengove out of that game too, so that makes a big, big difference to our structure," he said.

 

"They help you down the chain … (Tom) Jonas and (Jack) Hombsch don't have to play those key positions that they played last time and then the next two down the line.

 

"It spreads the load … hopefully with key people in your team it helps the whole team play better."