Port’s Scott Lycett back to face Melbourne ruck duo

Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett is set to return to take on imposing Melbourne duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in the two sides’ AFL top-four showdown.

Lycett has not played a senior game since round five because of back soreness after a heavy fall.

But the physical 30-year-old impressed in the SANFL last week, while six-game tall Brynn Teakle was beaten by North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein at the top level.

Both could play against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with key forward Todd Marshall ruled out through concussion.

The Power sit fourth and are on a six-match winning streak heading into the clash with the second-placed Demons, who have won their past four games.

“Brynn’s been doing really well – he’s a young, developing ruckman who hasn’t played much footy at all – and we’ve got Scott Lycett back as well this week,” Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley told Fox Footy.

“He played a game back in the SANFL on the weekend and played quite well.

“Rightly you ask the ruck question because we’re coming up against a great duo and it’s going to be a real challenge for our boys, whoever takes the reins.”

Marshall will miss a second game through concussion in the space of three weeks following a head clash with North Melbourne’s Curtis Taylor.

“It’s unfortunate. Both concussions have come about from Todd’s own doing as much as anything and he said that himself,” Hinkley said.

“He’s quite well. He’s not unwell in any way other than he’s now faced his second concussion in three weeks.

“His energy to get after the opposition is really high and he said to me when he came off the ground, ‘I dropped a mark and that was my problem, I got my head on and went a bit crazy and charged at the next opportunity’.

“He’s just got to learn not to lead with his head a little bit but the main thing is that he’s well.”

Hinkley said Port Adelaide would take extra care with Marshall given it is his second concussion in a short space of time.

“He’ll go through the concussion protocols, as any player has to now, and do the right thing and we’ll actually even extend those tests to make sure,” Hinkley said.

“We’ll make sure we do everything we should to get him returning to the field in good health.”