PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Ollie Wines has been cleared to return to light training and two All-Australians could come into contention to face Carlton this week, as part of the latest update from the club’s medical staff.

Wines will be able to participate in some training but a timeline on his return to the playing field will become more apparent after more testing on his heart late this week.

The 27-year-old was subbed out of the club’s game against Melbourne on Thursday night and spent the night in hospital after feeling unwell.

The Brownlow Medallist was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a well-recognised, albeit uncommon condition in elite athletes, that can spontaneously cause an irregular heart rhythm. Wines was discharged the following night after this heart beat irregularity resolved itself. 

Head of Medical Services, Tim O’Leary, says Wines has recovered well but won’t face Carlton on Easter Sunday.

“Ollie is feeling well and has been cleared to return to light training in the short-term,” he said.

“His health is our paramount concern so he will remain under observation and have some further testing over the coming days.

“Following that testing, we would expect that any timelines for Ollie to return to playing would become more apparent but as I said, this is a secondary consideration behind his personal wellbeing.”

Wines: The prognosis is really positive

Defender Trent McKenzie will also miss the game after he had an arthroscopic clean-out of loose bodies in his left knee on Monday. The injury was the result of a direct knock to his knee in the Round 3 Showdown, and saw him withdraw just before the game against the Demons last Thursday. A timeline for his return will become clearer over the next week or so.

Ruckman Scott Lycett remains in contention to face the Blues despite dislocating his shoulder against Melbourne, while the club could welcome back All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir as he returns to training this week. 

Experienced forward Robbie Gray is also a chance to return to the field after missing the last three games, first with knee soreness and then under the AFL’s health and safety protocols, while Xavier Duursma (neck/shoulder bruising) will also be assessed ahead of the weekend’s AFL and SANFL games.

First-year midfielder Josh Sinn won’t play for the second week in-a-row as he continues to manage groin soreness.

Port Adelaide will on Thursday evening name an extended squad to take on Carlton at the MCG on Sunday, before narrowing the side on Friday.

Sunday’s game gets underway at 1:40pm local time / 1:10pm ACST.

Injury list

Aliir Aliir – ankle (assess)

Charlie Dixon – ankle (TBC)

Xavier Duursma – neck/shoulder (assess)

Orazio Fantasia – knee (5-7 weeks)

Scott Lycett – shoulder (assess)

Trent McKenzie – knee (TBC)

Josh Sinn – groin (3-4 weeks)

Ollie Wines – heart (TBC)