The AFL have implemented their heat policy for Saturday night's NAB Cup quarterfinal between West Coast and Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval, boosting the interchange benches to eight players.

Although the match doesn't kick off until 5.40pm local time, a forecast top of 36C has prompted a raft of measures to avoid player stress.

The two substitutes can now be used as full interchange players, while the half-time break has been extended by five minutes to 25 minutes.

The quarter-time and three quarter-time breaks have been extended by two minutes and additional water boys will be used.

The match will mark the first outing in Port colours for former Blues ruckman Cameron Cloke, former Lion Scott Harding and former Bomber Jay Nash and Power coach Mark Williams said all three had plenty to prove.

"All three are from other clubs and have started their AFL journey without making a dramatic impact, so they've still got a lot of things to prove," Williams said before the team flew out of Adelaide on Friday.

Cloke, at his third club after 21 games for Collingwood and 36 at Carlton, will play an important role against Eagles ruck duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui after the Power decided to rest No.1 big man Dean Brogan.

Forward Justin Westhoff and Matthew Lobbe will also share the ruck burden with Cloke.

"They (the Eagles) have got two really good ruckmen playing for them and ours are all taking their first opportunities really," Williams said.

"Our guys will certainly need to do well.

"They're competing against West Coast but at the same time each is competing to see who gets to play alongside Dean Brogan (in the season proper)."

Former Tiger Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, given a lifeline by West Coast via the rookie draft, will play his first game for the Eagles while Beau Waters, who has missed 18 months of football due to an elbow injury, has also been named in the squad.

The Eagles have rested key midfielders Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis and Andrew Embley but Cox's return after a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a groin injury is a massive boost for the club.

Meanwhile, Williams said speedy midfielder David Rodan, who underwent the revolutionary LARS surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last December, was edging closer to a return.

"David looks great and next week you'll see that he's in every training drill, so that means he's getting very close to being ready to play," Williams said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP