Schmidt has missed the last two matches due to a torn abdominal muscle and won’t return for another two or three weeks.

As a result, the Magpies depth continues to be tested.

Player unavailability is again an issue for the ‘Pies with key men Dylan Beasley and Craig Dicker set to miss the match.

It means midfielder Tommy Marmo will have to play an even more integral role as Port aim to stop a rampant Saints forward line.

“Tommy has been one of our best acquisitions since he moved to the club from country Victoria,” Schmidt said.

Sawtell remain undefeated after five-straight wins and handed out a comprehensive 116-point belting when the two sides clashed a fortnight ago.

The Magpies have been buoyed by last week's away win over the Grafton Tigers and will be relishing the chance to become the first team to beat Sawtell in the 2018 season.

But Schmidt and the ‘Pies know it will be a challenge.

“Like all things, we need to be wary of Sawtell, put our best possible team on the park and see what happens,” Schmidt said.

The women's match between Port and Sawtell is similarly poised.

In the last fixture between these two, the Magpies narrowly won three of the four quarters but a sluggish start left them with a scoreboard deficit that was too great to overcome.

At home and with a full complement of players and a vocal home crowd, the Magpies will look to put in a four quarter effort knowing that they have the capability to knock off the Saints.

Sawtell have a number of injury concerns that will see them light on for numbers for a second consecutive week.

They performed exceptionally well last week under those circumstances but will need to lift further as Port Macquarie on the road will provide their sternest test yet.