PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams has confirmed his club will select Gippsland forward John Butcher, if he’s available, with its first pick (No.8) in tonight’s NAB AFL Draft.

Butcher, 18, has been strongly linked to the Power, as a replacement for star veteran Warren Tredrea.

On Thursday, just hours out from the start of the draft, Williams declared Port Adelaide’s hand.

“We’ll take John Butcher (at pick No.8),” Williams told Adelaide radio station 5aa.

“I saw him play a few games and he needs to work on his kicking there’s no doubt, but he can pick the ball up off the ground and he could develop into a really great forward.

“He can take a contested mark. He jumps into packs and knocks people over.”

The Power are likely to use their second pick, No.9, on a midfielder, with Williams expressing his interest in Calder Cannon Jake Melksham.

The club also has a pick at No.16.

Log on to afl.com.au on D-day, Thursday, November 26, for the most comprehensive coverage of the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. We’ll have live chats, live audio streams, in-depth player profiles, club reaction and our famous afl.com.au Draft Tracker.