PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says Sam Powell-Pepper made a really mature decision in electing to stand down for Saturday night's clash with Geelong while an AFL investigation into an off-field incident remains unresolved.

Powell-Pepper has served his club-imposed one-game ban for breaking team rules for a drunken night out at an Adelaide nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, April 8.

But the AFL has yet to conclude its investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred that night, with the 20-year-old midfielder ruling himself out while it is ongoing.

AFL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES: Power surprised case is ongoing

"(Powell-Pepper) was dealing with some pressures that he didn't think would put him in the position to play the football that he needed to play," Hinkley said on Friday morning.

"He's obviously not in the headspace that he probably feels like he needs to be in.

"It's caused him some grief and some concern, which it should have, but he's dealing with it and he'll handle it.

"That was a really mature decision for Sam and he made a decision based on what's best for the team."

Hinkley said he wasn't frustrated that the AFL's investigation was ongoing.

"I'm sure Chris (football manager Chris Davies) and the AFL will work really closely to get it done as soon as they possibly can, which I said a week ago is where we should probably leave it," Hinkley said.

"It's an investigation, it's still ongoing.

"When we get any information, we'll share it with everyone."

Forward Todd Marshall (concussion) trained on Friday morning and has been cleared to face the Cats.

Key defender Jack Hombsch returns for his first game of the season, replacing Trent McKenzie, who has been dropped after his Power debut.

"Unfortunately for Trent, he didn't quite get the job done the way we would've liked him to get it done," Hinkley said.

"Jack's form (in the SANFL) has been irresistible, that's the key thing to remember.

"Jack was nearly our number one defender not that long ago, and he's been in such good form that he had to play."

The Power won their first three games of the season, but were disappointing in a 22-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium last Sunday.

It's also a chance to get revenge on the Cats after a Patrick Dangerfield goal with less than two minutes on the clock denied the Power victory last year.

"That hurt, that was a big result," Hinkley said.

"We played well enough to win the game, unfortunately we didn't.

"We want to get one back, simple.

"I'm sure our players remember, they always do."