EMERGING Port Adelaide midfielder Dan Houston has been cleared to take on the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
A side strain kept Houston from training on Thursday, but coach Ken Hinkley said that wasn't unusual for the 22-year-old.
FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game
"He hasn't done much at training, but he's fine," Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.
"I just spoke to him about 20 minutes ago – he's better than he was this time last week, so that gives us some good confidence."
Houston has excelled since shifting from defence to the midfield in the past three weeks, and had 26 disposals, including 19 in the first half, in last Saturday night's 11-point upset of ladder leaders Geelong.
The Power have made two forced changes to the side that beat the Cats, with midfielder Willem Drew and ruckman/forward Peter Ladhams replacing suspended duo Karl Amon and Dougal Howard.
The inclusions of Drew and Ladhams means Hinkley has stuck to his earlier stance that veterans Justin Westhoff and Paddy Ryder, along with midfield bull Sam Powell-Pepper, need to regain form in the SANFL before being considered for senior recalls.
Midfielder Tom Rockliff will also resume for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the state league against North Adelaide on Saturday after missing the past four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Drew, 20, has averaged 15.9 disposals in his eight games this season, while 21-year-old Ladhams – who will play as a tall forward alongside Charlie Dixon while giving Scott Lycett a chop out in the ruck – is back for his second senior appearance after having 13 disposals and nine hitouts on debut against Hawthorn in round 10.
"Their form has been first-class," Hinkley said.
"Both boys all season have played as good as they've ever played.
"They're in great form, so it gives them an opportunity to play a role that we need them to play."
The right thing to do was to allow the boys to get some form and not rush them in - Ken Hinkley on Justin Westhoff and Paddy Ryder
Ryder and Westhoff will miss a second straight game after the Power's past two club champions were dropped for the victory over the Cats.
Hinkley wants to see the pair regain touch in the SANFL rather than being thrown back into the senior side prematurely.
"The right thing to do was to allow the boys to get some form and not rush them in, otherwise we'd be sitting there on Saturday night hoping they could get a kick and we might up in the same spot," Hinkley said.
"I feel like the right decision was to always allow them to get some form before we brought them back."
The seventh-placed Power (7-6) are favourites to consolidate their spot in the top eight after their impressive showing against the Cats.
However, the 15th-placed Bulldogs (5-8) can't be underestimated after they pushed grand finalists Collingwood all the way in a nine-point loss last weekend.
"The Bulldogs have been very similar to us," Hinkley said.
"They've been up and down a little, but their best is really good.
"If we both bring our best, it will be a pretty strong, hard, contested game of football."
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