PORT Adelaide has cut recruit Sam Mayes, forward Sam Gray and key defender Dougal Howard from its 26-man squad for its JLT Community Series encounter with North Melbourne at Alberton Oval.

The trio were in action for Port in its SANFL trial against South Adelaide on Friday night.

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The Power will play with 23 players against the Roos.

Mayes, 24, joined the Power during last year's NAB AFL Trade Period after 101 games with Brisbane.

Gray has had an interrupted pre-season with an ankle injury, while Howard was dropped.

Utility Jack Watts is again expected to spend time across half-back and on the wing.

For the Kangaroos, Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard will play their first games against their former club.

Experienced pair Scott Thompson and Sam Wright return in defence, Nathan Hrovat has been recalled after a strong performance in a VFL practice game last week and ruckman Todd Goldstein has been rested.

Hrovat will start on the bench alongside Mason Wood, Paul Ahern, Nick Larkey, Tarryn Thomas, Bailey Scott, Sam Wright, Cameron Zurhaar.

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Starting on the interchange for the Power are Todd Marshall, Karl Amon, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma and Darcy Byrne-Jones.

The first bounce is at 12.40pm (ACDT).

Saturday, March 9

Port Adelaide v North Melbourne at Alberton Oval, 12.40pm ACDT

PORT ADELAIDE

B: R.Bonner 26 T.Clurey 17 D.Houston 43
HB: R.Burton 3 T.Jonas - C 42 D.Byrne-Jones 33
C: S.Motlop 6 T.Rockliff 11 J.Westhoff 39
HF: T.Boak 10 J.Watts 23 B.Ebert 7
F: R.Gray 9 P.Ryder 4 C.Rozee 20
Foll: S.Lycett 29 S.Powell-Pepper 2 W.Drew 28
I/C: Z.Butters 18 X.Duursma 21 J.Lienert 40 T.Marshall 13 K.Amon 15  

In: Nil
Out: S.Gray, D.Howard, S.Mayes 

Emerg: K.Farrell 24 M.Broadbent 5 J.Patmore 37 A.Johnson 31    

Notable absentees: Charlie Dixon, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett

NORTH MELBOURNE

B: M.Williams 2 S.Thompson 16 S.Wright 19
HB: J.Pittard 17 B.McKay 23 D.Tyson 21
C: J.Polec 13 T.Dumont 14 L.McDonald 11
HF: A.Hall 43 B.Brown 50 S.Atley 18
F: J.Simpkin 12 M.Wood 32 K.Turner 28
Foll: T.Campbell 42 S.Higgins 4 J.Ziebell - C 7
I/C: N.Hrovat 8 L.Davies-Uniacke 9 P.Ahern 15 N.Larkey 20 T.Thomas 26 B.Scott 30 E.Vickers-Willis 33 C.Zurhaar 44  

In: S.Thompson, S.Wright, N.Hrovat
Out: J.Macmillan (injured), T.Goldstein, T.Murphy

Emerg: T.Goldstein 22 C.Taylor 31 K.Hayden 37 T.Murphy 40    

Notable absentees: Majak Daw, Robbie Tarrant, Jed Anderson, Ben Cunnington, Ben Jacobs, Taylor Garner