PORT Adelaide medicos will be on high alert when Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines makes his comeback from a heart scare.
Wines was sent to hospital with a heart irregularity during Port's loss to Melbourne on April 7.
The Power vice-captain returns against West Coast on Saturday at Adelaide Oval in the knowledge the condition may occur again.
"He will be aware and our medical team will certainly be aware what happened with Ollie, it wouldn't be unusual for it to happen again," Port coach Ken Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
"We hope that it never happens again. But it's not something we can stand here and categorically say it couldn't happen again.
"Because he has had one episode we are probably on high alert with all that."
Wines was cleared by two specialists to return to action.
"We were never going to take a risk ... particularly with a player and their heart," Hinkley said.
"We were always mindful that he had to be right. He was ticked off medically by more than one person and that was important for us."
Wines returns with Kane Farrell, who will play his first AFL game since suffering a knee reconstruction almost 10 months ago.
West Coast lost Hugh Dixon to injury while dropping Jamaine Jones, Josh Rotham and Zac Langdon.
Hinkley said he had empathy for Eagles coach Adam Simpson, who has been battling frequent COVID-related selection issues.
"There's some challenges that you get that are outside your control and right now Adam and his team are dealing with some things that are outside their control," Hinkley said.
"But we have all had to deal with them at some point.
"Every club is still having the COVID problems ... it's a real challenge, obviously West Coast have had more of those challenges."
Meanwhile, Hinkley won't be thinking about the ramifications of another loss this weekend after starting the season 0-5 for the first time in history.
"Hypothetical," he said.
"It's not one that I think I should be trying to even answer.
"I have got a job to do today and a job to do tomorrow and I will stay focused on that.
"And I don't worry about what comes next because that is a trap."
Hinkley, who is contracted until the end of next season, was also pragmatic at speculation surrounding his future.
"Nah, I'm OK," he said.
"I am a realist and I understand the situation and I understand what football does.
"I said this two weeks ago, I am very much aware of what football is like."
