PORT Adelaide midfielder Tom Rockliff is back to his influential best after an impressive outing in the Power's 21-point win in their JLT Community Series encounter against North Melbourne at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

The Power are hopeful ruckman Paddy Ryder will be ready for round one despite suffering a cheekbone injury in a fourth-quarter collision with teammate Robbie Gray.

After an underwhelming first season with the Power, Rockliff turned it on with a game-high 42 disposals, 17 marks and nine clearances.

Rockliff struggled with a shoulder injury last year, but is reaping the benefits of a great pre-season and showing why the Power signed him to a lucrative four-year deal at the end of 2017.

POWER v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The Power claimed their first victory of the pre-season – 19.9 (123) to 16.6 (102) – in a free-flowing hitout heavy on scoring and low on congestion.

Youngster Zak Butters punched his round one ticket with another strong showing, kicking three goals, while Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee and Willem Drew could make it four debutants for the Power in their season-opener with Melbourne on March 23.

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Port Adelaide defender Jarrod Lienert will miss up to a month with medial damage to his knee in a further injury concern for the club.

Losing both pre-season games won't be a concern for the Kangaroos – without ruckman Todd Goldstein (rested) and midfielder Ben Cunnington (thigh) against the Power – but a calf injury to defender Marley Williams will be a worry ahead of their round one clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium on March 24.

Jared Polec was a standout in his first game against his former club, Paul Ahern looked lively, kicking three goals and Bailey Scott showed plenty of promise.

Fourteen goals were kicked in the first quarter – and 22 in the opening half – as the set starting positions opened up plenty of scoring opportunities.

What we learned

Port Adelaide: The Power are determined to be bold and attack the game at every opportunity. Their ball movement is light years quicker than last year and they have no hesitation in kicking to 50-50 contests and giving their tall forwards the chance to outmark their opponents. Apart from a little bit of keep away at the end of the third quarter, the Power played with pace and aggression.

North Melbourne: Even in the later years of his career, ruckman Todd Goldstein is crucial to the Kangaroos midfielders getting their hands on the ball. The absence of Goldstein – who was rested – was noticeable as Power big man Scott Lycett got the upper hand on Tom Campbell, feeding Tom Rockliff, Travis Boak and Sam Powell-Pepper time and time again. The Kangaroos were also missing durable midfielder Ben Cunnington.

New faces

Port Adelaide: The Power are set to have four debutants in round one. Zak Butters was electric for the second week in a row, kicking three goals. Xavier Duursma's pace on the outside was a highlight while Connor Rozee and Willem Drew did some nice things. Scott Lycett was dominant in the ruck and Ryan Burton was solid across half-back.

North Melbourne: Father-son recruit Bailey Scott turned heads with his play across the wing and up forward, kicking two goals. Jared Polec was among the Kangaroos' best in his first game against his old side. Dom Tyson and Aaron Hall were solid, Jasper Pittard was handy in defence while draftee Tarryn Thomas had a quiet game.

Fantasy watch

Scott Lycett (RUC, $539,000) did the bulk of the ruck work for the Power. He was busy at ground level, while also going forward and being dangerous in attack.

Next up

The Power hit the road for a challenging round one encounter with preliminary finalists Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, March 23. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos open their season with a trip to Perth to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday, March 24.

PORT ADELAIDE         7.1       12.4     15.8     19.9 (123)
NORTH MELBOURNE 7.2       10.4     12.5     16.6 (102)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Butters 3, Westhoff 2, R.Gray 2, Rockliff 2, Byrne-Jones 2, Lycett 2, Powell-Pepper, Boak, Marshall, Motlop, Amon, Watts
North Melbourne: Ahern 3, Ziebell 2, Higgins 2, Turner 2, Scott 2, Wood, Hall, Brown, Polec, Campbell

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Rockliff, Boak, Watts, Duursma, Bonner, Lycett
North Melbourne: Ahern, Polec, Higgins, Hall, Scott, Thompson

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Lienert (knee), Ryder (cheekbone)
North Melbourne: Williams (calf), Wright (concussion/quad)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Findlay, Mollison, Williamson

Official crowd: 6271 At Alberton Oval