PORT Adelaide rookie Kane Mitchell has been upgraded to the senior list and will play against Richmond on Friday night.

Mitchell will be one of three inclusions to the face the Tigers, with Jay Schulz and Jack Hombsch also returning to the side.

Midfielder Sam Gray has been dropped for the second time this season, while Ken Hinkley also confirmed utility Paul Stewart has been omitted.

Mitchell, 26, has been in outstanding form for Port's state league side and will line up for his first game since round 21 last season.

"He thoroughly deserves the opportunity to come into our AFL side this week," Hinkley said on Thursday.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley isn't demanding Jay Schulz returns to senior football with authority against Richmond on Friday - he has simpler expectations on the veteran.

A back injury has sidelined Schulz since round one, which drew his very future into question.

But the 31-year-old recovered just before the club’s bye and played in the SANFL, kicking two goals.

That bye meant Schulz wasn't able to play a second SANFL game before returning to the senior side, although Hinkley said the veteran had enough class to cope with the early return.

The coach wants Schulz to slot into the club’s forward line smoothly on Friday night.

"Be part of the team, that's all - nothing more, nothing less," Hinkley said.

"Play his role for the team which he does more often than not.

"Ideally he could have got another game [in the SANFL] but we've done what we can to manage that. He’s a high-class player who’s been a high-class player at this club for a long time."

Schulz will be joined in the line-up by defender Jack Hombsch who has recovered from a hamstring injury and speedy midfielder Kane Mitchell, who will play his first senior game of the year.

Mitchell has ben forced to work tirelessly to win his senior selection and was set to do so several weeks ago only to be suspended by the SANFL.

He's consistently the Magpies' highest possession-getter and Hinkley said the thrill of selecting Mitchell was akin to giving a player his AFL debut, such is the 26-year-old's character and popularity at Alberton.

"When you watch Kane around our football club he does create a bit of spark," he said.

"He's a mature player but he's desperate for his AFL career and he wants it to keep going … he's really popular - I mean that doesn't sound for much when the game starts but Kane is incredibly popular amongst the team so they all get a bit of a spark out of that.

"As they do when a fist-gamer gets a game."

Hinkley refused to divulge what Mitchell's specific role would be on Friday night; in the SANFL he's able to negate his midfield opponent whilst also amassing a huge number of possessions.

Hinkley said he could possibly help curb the influence of Richmond star Dustin Martin, but could also be used in a number of other ways.

"Whether that's outside run or whether that's someone he can play on or whether that's in the forward line putting pressure on, what he has got is incredible ability to find the footy himself," he said.

“In the SANFL, when he’s done that role [tagging] he’s still able to get 30-plus touches of the ball himself.”