Howard made his debut for the Power against arch-rivals Adelaide Crows in round two when given a late call-up to replace injured forward Jay Schulz. 

This time, he’ll get an opportunity in the ruck following the surprise axing of Matthew Lobbe, who’s been sent back to the SANFL to regain his confidence and work on his play around the ground.

Port Adelaide assistant coach, Michael Voss, gave Howard a rap when explaining the decision to drop Lobbe on Adelaide radio on Thursday night. 

''We'd like a greater involvement from him and we feel Dougal Howard's been doing a really strong job,” Voss told 5AAA radio.

Howard is one of five Port changes for the Richmond game. 

The former East Wagga-Kooringal and Wagga Tigers player was drafted in 2014 by Port Adelaide.

He emerged as a potential ruck option for Port early this year following the suspension of Paddy Ryder, but has risen to AFL standard quickly after impressing throughout the pre-season.

In February, an Adelaide newspaper declared “a player virtually unheard of outside the walls of (Port’s training base) Alberton will start his unlikely audition to be Matthew Lobbe’s back-up… a possible replacement… should the big man be lost to injury or suspension.”

Less than three months later, Howard gets his opportunity through form.