Scott Lycett, having not played since Round 4 this year, will be hoping to get back into the side before season's end. Image: AFL Photos.

LEAD ruckman Scott Lycett's comeback - and an end to the season's long-running questions on Port Adelaide's ruck combinations - rests on a medical report.

Lycett on Thursday had a clean-out of the right shoulder that was dislocated and then required surgery after the round four clash with AFL premier Melbourne at Adelaide Oval in April.

Port Adelaide football chief Chris Davies is hopeful there is no infection detected from the exploratory surgery that was required after Lycett noted pain in the shoulder days after his SANFL comeback match at the weekend.

"We are hopeful there is no infection," Davies said on Friday. "Scott had a bit of a wash-out - that is how the doctor described it to me - of the joint (on Thursday). We're now awaiting the results of those tests.

"If there is no infection, Scott may be back in two or three weeks, which would be a good thing.

"In the meantime, we continue - and we are really pleased - with Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon combining as rucks, as they have done in the past four-to-five weeks."

Although Scott Lycett got through a full SANFL game on the weekend, he pulled up sore in his shoulder the following evening - a set back for the ruckman. Image: Michael Sullivan.

Port Adelaide's ruck stocks have been thinned by surgery to Lycett, COVID issues with first-year ruckman Sam Hayes and the unfortunate debut of West Australian rookie draftee Brynn Teakle who had surgery to repair a broken collarbone after his AFL start-up game against Sydney at Adelaide Oval in round 15. The East Fremantle recruit answered the need in ruck just two weeks after being called at No. 8 in the AFL mid-season rookie draft, but was sidelined after what he called the "best 35 minutes of my life".

Davies is hopeful Teakle - along with opportunist forward Orazio Fantasia (quad), half-forward Lachie Jones (hamstring) and North Melbourne recruit Trent Dumont (calf) - will move off the injury list in the next week.

"We will get additional numbers - and that will help us in the SANFL where it has been a real challenge for us," Davies said. "We've recently had just six AFL-listed players available for SANFL selection, so we have battled there."

Fantasia, who has featured in just one AFL game this year - as the unused medical substitute against North Melbourne at Hobart, cut a lonely figure at early morning training at Alberton on Friday before the team captain's run.

"Orazio is progressing in what has been an interrupted year dating back to the pre-season," said Davies of Fantasia who started the year recovering from knee surgery. "We have certainly missed Orazio because, at our best, he is in our team."