General manager (football) Peter Rohde said Hitchcock would undergo surgery and miss two weeks of running.
Despite the injury Rohde expects him to be available for NAB Cup selection, with Port Adelaide’s first games against Adelaide and St Kilda taking place on Sunday 17 February.
“He [Hitchcock] has had plantar fascia soreness in the last week,” Rohde told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“He managed training on Monday but is still sore and we’ve planned to have him undergo surgery.
“He won’t run for two weeks and will resume full training after about four.
“We think it’s likely he’ll be available for the opening week of the NAB Cup.”
Hitchcock’s plantar fasciitis increases the club’s injury list to five, with Robbie Gray (knee), John Butcher (hip), Daniel Stewart (hip) and Brent Renouf (knee) still recovering from surgeries undergone last year.
