Port back Lycett for Bulldogs battle with new-age ruck

Power coach Ken Hinkley had his eye on the crucial nature of their duel at Marvel Stadium a week ago when substituting Lycett out of the Power's 55-point rout of Hawthorn after just 49 per cent of game time.

The reason? To keep him fresh for English.

"Obviously he's in great shape for this week based on the fact that we took him out with about 40 minutes to go last week," Hinkley said of Lycett.

"We're very much aware that English has been in great form and that Scott has got a big job and we need to make sure we gave him the best chance - and that certainly has given him the best chance.

"We were comfortable enough to know that Scott, when he's freshest, is when we get the best Scott."

Hinkley described English as another midfielder, given his running and ball-winning capacities - last week, the big Dog collected career-high disposals (27) and marks (12) in a loss to Geelong.

"Clearly we're aware of the opposition's best players and English has probably been as good as anyone for them," Hinkley said.

"He's like an extra mid in some ways, he can really cover the ground. He's not a traditional ruckman ... he can do all sorts of things.

"So it's just around Scott knowing the role. He has taken on a couple of big roles in last few weeks for us.

"We're really comfortable if he can handle (Melbourne's Max) Gawn and (Brodie) Grundy and (Richmond's Toby) Nankervis ... that we think he can get the job done again for us."

The second-placed Power, on a club-record nine-game winning streak, recalled spearhead Charlie Dixon and ex-captain Travis Boak after injury while last week's substitute Josh Sinn has been named in the starting line-up.

The seventh-placed Bulldogs lost defender Ed Richards (hamstring) and Ryan Gardner, Oskar Baker and Tim O'Brien have been dropped.

Utility Josh Bruce returns for his first AFL game since round five when he copped a rib injury while Alex Keath, Laitham Vandermeer and Rhylee West also return.