THE YOUNG guns are back.
Ladder-leader Port Adelaide will be making five changes to its R13 team ahead of the clash with 16th-placed Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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After his shock Sir Doug Nicholls Round omission, Xavier Duursma returns, while Ryan Burton (quad), Connor Rozee (heel), Todd Marshall (thumb) and Cam Sutcliffe are all back in the side.
After a narrow R13 win over an undermanned Hawthorn last week, the players to make way are: Sam Mayes, Jarrod Lienert, Boyd Woodcock, Mitch Georgiades and out-of-favour veteran Steven Motlop.
Coach Ken Hinkley said Duursma dominated his match simulation session - which was expected.
"[He] got plenty of the footy and did things that Xavier normally does for us. We put a bit of a break in the traffic for him and helped him re-set and I think he'll be fine."
Port has been super impressive this season, maintaining top spot while still showing off the depth of its list.
Hinkley said it had been great to get games of footy into Lienert and Woodcock, and other youngsters such as Willem Drew and Joe Atley had impressed in scratch matches.
The game against the Swans will be Darcy Byrne-Jones' 100th and Hinkley had nothing but praise for the dashing defender.
Hinkley said Byrne-Jones - who came from the from the Oakleigh Chargers and was selected with pick 52 at the 2013 AFL National Draft - was having an amazing football journey.
"He's had to fight his whole way through. Bar sleeping in once, he would have played 100-straight games. It's great recognition of a player who is very very important to our footy club."
