BALL-MAGNET Tom Rockliff is set to return for Port Adelaide after being omitted three weeks ago.

Power coach Ken Hinkley will make two changes ahead of Thursday's clash against Melbourne, with Jarrod Lienert to also come into the side.

33 GAMES, 20 DAYS Your 'Festival of Footy' broadcast guide

"Obviously Todd (Marshall) has broken his thumb so he won't be available. We've got Riley (Bonner) who is a bit sore and probably not going to come up so he probably won't play," Hinkley said.

"We'll bring Lienert into the team and Rockliff into the team."

12:02

Freshness in flexibility: Will we have a rolling fixture beyond 2020?

AFL head of broadcast and scheduling, Marcus King, gives Damian Barrett an insight into how the rolling fixture has been developed this season amid the coronavirus chaos

Published on Jul 28, 2020

Hinkley has been open about Rockliff's struggles this year, but he's backing in the veteran midfielder to find his feet.

THE FULL INJURY LIST Who is racing the clock?

"We had a trial game last Saturday and 'Rock' was as good as anyone out there," Hinkley said.

"We all get that Tom has been a pretty high performer at the level. He was out of form, but hopefully he's had a little bit of time off and he's ready to go again."

Trent McKenzie missed round eight with a back injury and won't return against the Demons, but should be in for Monday's game against the Western Bulldogs.

"(If the game was on) Saturday he'd play, so with Monday coming and Thursday too early we've just got to play our way through this little bit," Hinkley said of McKenzie.

THE LADDER Where is your team sitting?

Connor Rozee won't be rested just yet, but Hinkley will monitor his availability with the short turnarounds to come.

"He's fine, he's got a slight issue with his foot which can be managed and he's managing really well," Hinkley said.

Wylie Buzza and Riley Grundy could be in the mix for key-position roles with strong scratch match form.

"Riley Grundy kicked a couple of goals in a totally different position," Hinkley said.

IN THE MIX Who's pushing for selection for round nine?

"Riley's trained his whole year and a half as a key back, and he played at full forward last week."

Hinkley said first-year players Miles Bergman and Jackson Meade are "around the mark" for a call-up, but Dylan Williams was "a bit sore" and "not quite ready" for senior selection.