Port Adelaide will throw debutant Logan Austin into the AFL deep end, with a potential match-up against Collingwood's Travis Cloke.
Tall defender Austin will play his first AFL game for Port against the Magpies on Sunday at the MCG, with coach Ken Hinkley backing him in against Cloke and other Magpie marking targets.
"We are not going to be uncomfortable putting him on any one of their three talls," Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
Cloke returns to the Collingwood side for the first time since Anzac Day against a depleted Port defence.
Austin, a 20-year-old from Canberra, was summoned as a replacement for Jack Hombsch (hamstring).
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Port are also without their regular tall backline trio of Alipate Carlile, who's recovering from a broken wrist in state league ranks; Jackson Trengove, who's been pitched into the ruck to cover other absences; and Tom Jonas, who's suspended for six games.
Hinkley described Austin as a "physical big defender with a beautiful kick" who deserved his selection through strong state league form.
"He has been ready for a while, to be honest. It has been a challenge for us to keep him at bay," Hinkley said.
"The opportunity was presented through injury but it's certainly well earned."
Hinkley dropped Karl Amon for the MCG fixture against the Magpies, with evergreen defender Matthew Broadbent recovered from an illness that caused him to be a late withdrawal from last Saturday's win against Melbourne in Alice Springs.
