Track watch: All the latest news from Port Adelaide ahead of their final against Geelong

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee has touched on what’s different this year compared to other failed finals campaigns. Plus the expected replacements for Dan Houston and Kane Farrell.

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee says he feels the Power are “better equipped” to handle the heat of finals this year.

And Rozee has ruled himself out as an option to fill the big hole left by attacking defenders Dan Houston and Kane Farrell in the backline despite thinking he might have to go there in the final home and away match against Fremantle.

The Power look set to field Byrne-Jones and Ryan Burton at half-back to fill the void of Houston and Farrell.

Josh Sinn has been in strong SANFL form but was with the weaker side on Monday night.

Marshall took part in match sim as part of the stronger side, while Jed McEntee and Francis Evans swapped sides as smaller forwards at Alberton Oval.

The Power open the 2024 finals series when it hosts Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

While it was limping into September last year, going out in straight sets, the Power come into this year’s finals campaign in some serious form.

It is the third time in five years the Power have hosted Geelong in a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, winning the previous two.

Port Adelaide have ended the regular season in strong winning fashion. Picture: Getty Images

That led to preliminary final losses to Richmond (six points) and the Western Bulldogs (71-points) with the latter one that took the Power some time to get over.

But Rozee said he was confident the Power would be in a better position to handle the intensity of finals this time around.

“I do feel that we are better equipped to probably handle the heat a little bit more,” he said.

“We have had guys who have played finals now and know what to expect.”

Rozee said that was definitely the case compared to last year.

“I don’t think it was our preparation that was our let-down, I don’t think we probably handled the pressure as well as we could have,” he said.

“There were a few guys who hadn’t played finals before and a few guys that were missing with injuries as well.

Rozee is confident Port Adelaide will stand up in the finals. Picture: Getty Images

“We are purely focused on this week and I feel like we are in a great position with our squad.

“That comes with experience I guess and putting yourself in those situations.

“You don’t know how you are going to handle the pressure and the bright lights until you continuously put yourself in those situations and I think even this year we have had more people step up in those moments and it hasn’t just been a few to carry the load.

“Our whole squad has been great at when it is their moment to go they go and we will need that whole squad mentality over the next month.”

This squad mentality will be required with the Power missing its two key weapons off half-back in Houston and Farrell through suspension and injury respectively.

Rozee was swung into defence in a masterstroke move by now Port assistant Josh Carr in North Adelaide’s 2018 SANFL premiership win.

The Power will miss Dan Houston off half-back. Picture: Getty Images

He said he thought he could have been a chance of returning to the role when Farrell went down with his hamstring injury against the Dockers but he would not be the replacement against the Cats.

“I was a sneaky chance last week I think but now I think we have some more time to prepare I think there are some better options,” he said.

“Darcy (Byrne-Jones) went back there last week, he is an All-Australian half-back so he isn’t a bad option.

“But if things maybe get desperate I might have to get swung back there.

“No, not really (it has been something spoken about). There are moments where I float back and help out there but I don’t think I’ll be lining up at half-back this week.”

The Power will train at Alberton Oval on Monday night.

Key forward Todd Marshall will be hoping to push his case after returning to training following a concussion, with his history part of a cautious approach by the Power.