Port Adelaide Power to test prize Essendon recruit Angus Monfries Angus Monfries is recovering from a hamstring strain. PORT Adelaide will test its prized Essendon recruit Angus Monfries to justify a surprise return to action against AFL premier Sydney on Saturday. If Monfries passes the fitness test on the hamstring he strained in the heat during the Power's 20/20 NAB Cup openers, he will be primed for a half against the Swans at AAMI Stadium - and be back in contention for Port's season opener against Melbourne at the MCG on March 31. But there will be no competitive action this week for former captain Dom Cassisi and competitive forward Brett Ebert as they recuperate from calf and hamstring injuries. And key forward John Butcher will remain with the Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL team at the weekend as the Power carefully manages his preparation for the premiership season and his comeback from groin problems. Cassisi and Ebert are being prepared for SANFL trials next weekend, when the Power will be in its bye phase waiting for the telling clash with Melbourne in its only appearance on the MCG this season. Port and Sydney are still to ratify the terms of their trial game at AAMI Stadium where they do not have to play under NAB Cup rules of a 24-man squad with three substitutes on the six-man bench. The Power may seek the same system Adelaide used in its trial against Fremantle three weeks ago, when Crows coach Brenton Sanderson effectively ran two squads making six changes at half-time. This would allow new Port coach Ken Hinkley and fitness coach Darren Burgess to manage Monfries' game time on Saturday without compromising the Power's determination to compete against the Swans. It would also allow Port to keep the 24 who beat West Coast by six points at Alice Springs on Saturday night, and recall tall forward Daniel Stewart and midfielder Matt Thomas. Port's trial with Sydney starts at 1pm. The Power coaching staff's hope of seeing Butcher live by moving the Magpies trial to AAMI Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the AFL practice game is unlikely to be fulfilled.