Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has tossed ageing speedster Matthew White an AFL lifeline with selection against Collingwood.
The injury-prone White will play just his second AFL game this season, summoned as a late replacement for defender Matthew Broadbent (ankle) for Saturday's MCG match.
White, 30, has been dogged by recent but coach Hinkley says he has a solid month of state league form under his belt.
"It's pretty significant for Whitey," Hinkley told reporters on Friday at Adelaide Airport.
"It's a great opportunity for him because he really hasn't had a real crack at it this year, he has not been fit.
"He understands exactly where it's at for him and at his stage of his career he knows that it's important to make his mark now."
Broadbent wasn't with his teammates when they flew from Adelaide on Friday, having sprained an ankle at training.
With Jared Polec (hamstring) also out injured, backman Jasper Pittard returns a week after being dropped to replace the influential Broadbent.
"He (Broadbent) is a pretty important part of a our team ... you just know each week he is going to go out and do his job really well," Hinkley said.
"But it's an opportunity. Jasper gets a a chance to now come back into the team and hopefully come back to some really, really good form himself.
"And if he can take care of Broady's position, that would be great for all of us."
Fourth-placed Port can consolidate in finals reckoning with victory over the Magpies, who sit in 13th spot but are only two wins shy of the Power.
Port take some comfort from their recent record against the Pies at the MCG - last year Port won by almost 10 goals and they have won two of the past three.
"It's good to know your recent history there is okay against them," Hinkley said.
"But they are probably a different side. We're quite a significantly different side.
"So you just don't take any notice of past performance, it just gives you a little bit of comfort."
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