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Nursing sore ribs, Port Adelaide star Zak Butters went hunting after Hawthorn opponents in Friday night's pulsating AFL semi-final.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley had invited Hawthorn to test Zak Butters' ribs.

Butters decided he'd test his sore chest himself at the expense of some Hawks opponents.

Twice voted the AFL Players Association's most courageous player, the Port onballer made a big statement early in Friday's pulsating semi-final.

Butters was substituted out of last week's qualifying final capitulation to Geelong with his rib injury.

That attracted criticism from commentator Kane Cornes, who sparked a week-long debate by questioning whether Butters should have stayed on the ground.

Butters appeared on Friday night wearing chest padding and started the game on the bench - an unusual tactic from the Power.

But he was soon in the thick of the action and ran onto Adelaide Oval with intent.

As Port put Hawthorn under immense early pressure, Butters went hunting.

Applying the maxim that attack is the best form of defence, he soon laid a couple of heavy tackles.

First he caught Dylan Moore holding the ball and then he also crunched Conor Nash..

By halftime Butters had six tackles and only teammate Ollie Wines had more in the game.

It wasn't Butters' most prolific night, with just 17 possessions, but he ended with eight tackles for the game and had five clearances.

The gun Power midfielder had made his point.

Asked post-game how his ribs were, Butters told Fox Footy, "They're good as gold. Ready to go".