Illness has hit Port Adelaide in the lead-up to their clash with Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, with coach Ken Hinkley among those having battled the flu this week.
The Power coach was isolated from the football department as the club looked to transfer their Round 13 form into this weekend's matchup with the Demons.
An upset win in Canberra was a needed result for the South Australian club, which is hoping to collect successive wins following their mid-season bye.
Ahead of their first of three straight home games, Port Adelaide players and staff were hit by a bug, with Hinkley, key defender Aliir Aliir and veteran Travis Boak among those affected.
Boak has since been ruled out of the Round 14 game against Melbourne, with the club hopeful all other named players will be fit and firing for Sunday's affair.
"We learned some good stuff out of (the) COVID (pandemic) - any time there is illness around, you isolate to protect other people," the Power coach said on Saturday.
"It was best to stay away and keep as many people as possible healthy.
"We have made it to this stage pretty well and at this stage everyone who has been picked will play tomorrow.
"Boak is sick and will not play because we are looking after him and mainly because he has been crook. We have to manage him carefully."
Boak is one of three omissions for the Power this weekend, with Jeremy Finlayson and Christian Moraes also making way.
Hinkley has recalled ruckman Jordon Sweet to form a two-ruck partnership to take on All-Australian Max Gawn, while star youngster Jason Horne-Francis returns from a hamstring injury.
Mid-Season Draft addition Mani Liddy is the third inclusion, with the former Central District midfielder named for his AFL debut.
"It is a great story and we have been very good at picking and playing (mid-season draftees) pretty quickly," Hinkley said of the 23-year-old.
"Anyone who has been playing at his level in the SANFL - and available on an AFL list - would have been called to the AFL before this week. His form with our SANFL team was outstanding. He is too hard to ignore. He deserves his chance.
"I love his story of persistence. He certainly is a hard worker. We think he will play a significant role for us".
Port Adelaide will host Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday at 3:20pm (AEST), with a win potentially placing them as high as 10th on the ladder.
