Port Adelaide have been forced into a late change ahead of Saturday night's affair with the GWS Giants, with defender Trent McKenzie ruled out of the match due to illness.

The Power confirmed on Friday that McKenzie won't feature in the must-win clash, with fellow backman Tom Clurey called into Ken Hinkley's side for Round 17.

Clurey's return comes after multiple weeks on the sidelines, having battled a knee injury and also recently dealing with a spell under the AFL's health and safety protocols.

Saturday night will be the 28-year-old's 11th appearance of the season, his most recent coming in Round 14 before the COVID complications.

The late change will also see uncapped key forward Ollie Lord brought into the selection mix, with the young Port Adelaide tall joining Xavier Duursma, Sam Mayes and Jed McEntee as an emergency for the match.

Port Adelaide confirmed just the sole inclusion for this weekend's clash with the Giants, seeing forward-midfield hybrid Zak Butters return from a knee injury while Lachie Jones (injury) and Steven Motlop (omitted) make way.

The Power will confirm their final squad at 6:30pm (AEST) on Saturday, with one of the four aforementioned emergencies set to be handed the medical substitute role.

The Round 17 encounter between Port Adelaide and GWS will begin at 7:30pm (AEST) on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.