Ken Hinkley is eager to take a look into Port Adelaide's forward-line future but is adamant that doesn't mean the end for Charlie Dixon.
The Power coach has lost patience with Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson, dropping the out-of-form senior pair for the away clash at Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
Key position prospect Ollie Lord has been named for his first game of the season after overcoming a serious leg injury.
The inexperienced 22-year-old, who debuted and played 13 AFL games last season, will line up alongside fellow talls Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall in attack.
"It's the first time we've actually got a chance to see the younger tall forwards go at it together this year," Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
"We're optimistic around what Ollie's got for us ... he's part of our plans and we'd like to think he can be very good as a key position forward.
"He is absolutely - in the future, not today - he's Charlie's clear replacement for the way he plays.
"He plays very similar - very combative and very strong at the footy."
Lord was set to feature in Port's round-one side before he went down with an impaction fracture of the tibia and bone bruising to the knee late in the pre-season.
Dixon hasn't kicked a goal in his last three outings and was substituted out of two of those matches before being axed from the side this week.
But Hinkley insisted Dixon isn't a spent force, declaring the 33-year-old "up for the fight" despite just 13 goals in 10 games this year.
"Charlie we've managed as well as we could through this year, but eventually form takes over and form becomes your issue," Hinkley said.
"What you've got to have is an appetite to get back.
"Charlie has a great appetite and wants to get back and contribute strongly for us at AFL level in the remaining part of this year, which I'm sure he'll be able to do.
"But sometimes you've just got to get your form back and that's exactly where he's at."
Finlayson has had an up-and-down season, the 28-year-old serving a three-match ban for making a homophobic slur against an opponent and producing 10 goals from eight games.
"Jeremy's in a reasonably good spot emotionally, it's just that people have bad runs of form sometimes and you've just got to work hard and turn it around," Hinkley said.
Port will welcome back captain Connor Rozee for the GWS clash, with the star midfielder recovered from his latest hamstring setback.
"I'm really looking forward to our midfield getting a chance to be together for a period of time," Hinkley said.
"For the last six or seven weeks there's been a disruption and it hasn't really had time to gel.
"Connor's basically been in and out for six weeks, and the games that he has played he's been injured early."
Defender Ryan Burton will be out of action for the "short term" after having his foot stomped on, Hinkley said, while Lachie Jones has been dropped, with Dylan Williams and Quinton Narkle recalled.
The Giants have regained Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley, who have overcome calf injuries, while James Peatling and Jacob Wehr have been omitted.
