All three of Port Adelaide’s blossoming ruckmen, Fabian Deluca, Jon Giles and Hugh Minson, will be on show against the Swans, while the club’s headline act of Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan have a rest.
Primus played 137 games for the Power and endured three knee-reconstructions as a result of his fearlessness and uncompromising attack on the ball.
"Matty Primus looks after the ruckmen and we all know how he played," assistant coach Jason Cripps said after training on Friday. "Matty was a pretty fierce and competitive player and now, he’s trying to instil that in those young guys.
"Deluca and Giles will be up against Darren Jolly in the ruck and the way the Swans play – tough and competitive football, is what we want to see from our guys."
Last week coach Mark Williams described Deluca’s game against Carlton as his "best for the club", while Giles also got some handy touches in the second half.
Cripps said Saturday night’s game would help the club prepare for life after Lade and Brogan. "We’ve got five ruckman on our list and I guess Broges and Ladey are getting to the later stages of their careers," Cripps said.
"Deluca and Giles have been here for two or three years now and you’d expect to see some improvement. As we know the bigger guys, and in particular the ruckmen, tend to take a little while to develop, but we’re really happy with their progress and we just hope they compete this week.
"Young Hugh Minson will play as well, so we may get a look at him in the ruck at some stage, but he’s more likely to play forward. We’re resting 13 or 14 guys who will probably play in round one, so it’s a good chance for us to see what these young guys can do."
Minson, 19, is the younger brother of the Western Bulldogs’ Will, and at 202cm is seen as being an exciting prospect for the future at Alberton.
"From a physical, maturity point of view Minson is probably still two years away," Cripps said.
"He’s just come back from a broken jaw and he’s been ok on the training track. He’s probably not going to play (AFL) in the early part of the season, so this is a good opportunity to have a look at guys like Hugh, who we don’t expect to play in the real stuff."
