NORTH Melbourne will be without gun midfielder Shaun Higgins for Friday night's crucial clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Higgins has been ruled out with illness, with his spot in the taken by Nathan Hrovat.

The Power have also been forced into a change, co-captain Tom Jonas out with calf tightness.

FOLLOW IT LIVE Power v Kangaroos

Defender Jarrod Lienert comes in for his first game of the home and away season after sustaining a knee injury in the second game of the JLT Community Series against North Melbourne in March.

The Power have won their past four games against the Kangaroos, but still have plenty of ground to make up in the overall ledger, with North having won 21 of their 33 previous encounters.

Port Adelaide v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST

LATE CHANGES

Port Adelaide: Tom Jonas (calf tightness) replaced in selected side by Jarrod Lienert

North Melbourne: Shaun Higgins (illness) replaced in selected side by Nathan Hrovat

FINAL INTERCHANGES

Port Adelaide: Todd Marshall, Zak Butters, Riley Bonner, Willem Drew

North Melbourne: Nathan Hrovat, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Trent Dumont, Sam Wright