Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley will not take his place in the coaches box against North Melbourne on Saturday.

After suffering from back pain, Hinkley was admitted to hospital where tests revealed he was suffering from a virus which would prevent him from flying to Hobart.

Port chief executive Keith Thomas told the club's official website that director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson would take Hinkley's place on game day.

“We’ve often said Ken and Alan are very similar in the way they think about the game and in terms of their philosophies.

"He has vast coaching experience in his own right and has worked closely with Ken here at Port Adelaide on game style and structures since day one of pre-season."