Port Adelaide is confident that six debutants will survive an AFL baptism of fire against finals contender Melbourne.

Power will give six players their first taste of top-level football in Saturday’s MCG encounter, and assistant coach Michael Voss is certain they’ll handle the heat.

“We promised a different look about us in 2019,” Voss told reporters.

Port recruits Scott Lycett (ex-West Coast) and Ryan Burton (ex-Hawthon) will debut against the Demons. They will be joined by a trio of new draftees in Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma, who will play their first AFL games, as will third-year player Willem Drew.

Voss conceded there was a risk the newcomers may become overawed, but said they’d be given more than one chance to showcase their talents.

“They can expect an increase in intensity but we have seen enough from them over the pre-season to be fairly well educated that they will handle it pretty well,” Voss said.

The Demons will also have two new faces.

Marty Hore, a dual VFL best and fairest winner at Collingwood, will debut alongside Corey Wagner, who was cut by North Melbourne following the 2017 season after playing eight AFL games.

Melbourne is widely expected to challenge for this year’s premiership after its 2018 run ended with defeat in the preliminary finals.

“They are certainly being talked about as a top-four side so playing round one, MCG, against Melbourne … it’s a really big task for us,” Voss said.