This story originally appeared on afl.com.au
PORT ADELAIDE is "going for it", rolling the dice with injured stars Paddy Ryder and Jared Polec for its season-defining clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Having already lost key forward Charlie Dixon (broken leg) and defender Tom Clurey (foot), ruckman Ryder and winger Polec have been given the all clear despite hardly training this week.
Ryder (hip flexor) and Polec (hamstring) walked laps at Alberton Oval on Friday morning.
"Jared was (training) before you people got here (and) Paddy hasn't done much (this week)," Power coach Ken Hinkley told reporters.
"At this stage, we expect them (Ryder and Polec) to play.
"We're confident enough (Ryder) has got his power and that's the key ingredient to what he needs to perform.
"Paddy knows his body incredibly well and he's been really confident right through the whole week.
"There's always some risk with anyone returning from injury or carrying something, but every team this weekend is carrying some people with some issues or injury concern.
"We haven't got many free hits left, so we're going for it."
Experienced duo Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop walked laps, but aren't in doubt.
Half-back flanker Dan Houston will play after being cleared from a neck injury sustained in last weekend's four-point loss to West Coast.
Clurey kept Eagles forward Jack Darling goal-less, but felt pain in his foot after the game and was sent for scans.
The 24-year-old will miss the next two games against the Magpies and Essendon before being reassessed ahead of the finals.
"He could potentially play some part in this season, but we'll give him a couple of weeks now and see where he's at and make some decisions from there," Hinkley said.
"Normally they don't tend to be too much more than that if you catch them early, but we're running out of games.
"He's had an outstanding season, really developed as a key back and he's a loss for us, but we've got a great replacement in Jack Hombsch, so we don't lose too much in that space."
Back-up ruckman Billy Frampton and veteran forward Lindsay Thomas will travel with the team to Melbourne as the emergencies.
The Power (12-8) have lost four of their past five games and are clinging to eighth on the ladder.
However, they have won four in a row against the Magpies, including their most recent encounter at the MCG in round 14 last year.
"The players have gone about their week really positively, they've trained really well, they've been sharp through the week," Hinkley said.
"There's no attitude around here that we're worrying about anything other than our opportunity, and our opportunity is to take Collingwood on at the 'G' and we look forward to doing that.
"We're like anyone that sits from about fourth to through 10th, we feel a slightly uncomfortable feeling about where we sit.
"We know we've got an opportunity to control our destiny, and we'll take that opportunity and do everything we can with it."
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