JOHN Butcher's four-goal game against the Brisbane Lions was worthy of a "pat on the back" from coach Ken Hinkley.

Butcher had 20 disposals and took 11 marks in an encouraging performance, admittedly against an undermanned and inexperienced Lions defence.

"It gives him some belief and confidence going forward, but there's a lot of work to do for John," Hinkley said.

"But for a bloke who's giving you what he's got, and trying his heart out, I think you'd give him a big pat on the back tonight and say 'well done John'."

The much-maligned forward has been in and out of the Port Adelaide senior side since his promising debut season in 2011, and despite being out of contract at the season's end, Hinkley would not be drawn on his future at the club.

"List decisions don't get made five rounds out.

"I said it before we came up, people can play their five best games of their career in the last five, and that changes lots of things.

"That's not just John, that's anyone."

The coach was also pleased with the game of Ollie Wines, who overcame a hard tag from Mitch Robinson to finish the game with 32 disposals, two behinds and several shots that failed to score.

"I thought he used the ball really well, bar finishing," Hinkley said.

"I really like Ollie's game tonight. He had some attention from Robinson and he just worked him into the ground a fair bit early, and then he just didn't damage him as much as he should have on the scoreboard.

"If he had have finished his work it would have been a pretty impressive game from a pretty big inside mid who doesn't do all his work on the outside."

Hinkley said Hamish Hartlett, a very late withdrawal with a calf complaint, could play next week.

"We actually had Jimmy Toumpas up here, because we thought there was another player that may have had some doubt.

"Luckily we had someone here, the other player got through, and ‘Hammer’ went down – he just went down in the warm-up, he trained last night no problems, a really minor little thing, so I'd say he's a chance for next week, he just didn't feel comfortable to go."

When asked who the other player under the injury cloud was, Hinkley said with a laugh he'd be keeping that information to himself.

The 94-point thumping keeps Port Adelaide's mathematical finals hopes alive, but Hinkley said the Power are just looking to next week's match against Sydney.

"The results tonight still keep us alive and dreaming a little, but we control what we control, and that's next week."