Port Adelaide is set for its biggest test of the season this week against crosstown rivals Adelaide.
The Power have proven a surprisingly plucky opponent in 2026, losing five games by less than a kick to go with four wins.
Arguably, no team are as reliant on a quartet as Port Adelaide is on Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis, Mitch Georgiades and Aliir Aliir, but the loss of Esava Ratugolea to a patella tendon injury will cut deeper than it appears on the surface.
Ratugolea has played just eight games this season, but since returning to the side from an early-season knee injury, was in the form of his career, providing an important foil.
Averaging a career-high 3.5 intercept marks per game this season, his blend of competitiveness and intercepting has freed up Aliir in recent weeks to create turnover and go.
Aliir is also averaging 3.5 intercept marks and more than six spoils, controlling the backline in 2026 and proving impassable.
In Ratugolea's absence, there is no obvious key defender to step up and fill the void. The 195cm Brandon Zerk-Thatcher looks set to fill the void, but has not played at all this season and will have a baptism of fire, forced to take one of Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker or Riley Thilthorpe in his first game.
The 202cm Harrison Ramm has played the last two games and is set for the assignment of his life on one of Adelaide's big forwards.
The 186cm Lachie Jones has punched above his weight all season and competes hard, but will also have to shoulder increased responsibility for the remainder of the year, alongside Logan Evans.
Where in recent weeks they have been able to rely on the intercepting of Ratugolea, Zerk-Thatcher, typically, has been more of a safety-first player across the course of their career, which slightly alters the way they may play.
Stunningly given where the club sits on the ladder, Port Adelaide sits fifth for points conceded this season.
They concede the second fewest inside 50s per game and sit in the top four for conceding points from turnover.
Addressing the media earlier in the week, Power coach Luke Webster confirmed Todd Marshall would not be swung into defence, with Port Adelaide insistent on backing in their stocks.
Port Adelaide will get immediate feedback under Saturday night lights against one of the best marking forward lines in the competition.
