PORT Adelaide forward Jason Davenport says he expects midfielder Steven Salopek to shrug off concerns over a potentially season-ending shoulder injury and line up in the club’s must-win game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Salopek vowed to play on after dislocating his right shoulder in the Power’s round 10 loss to Richmond, but coach Mark Williams suggested the unlucky 24-year-old’s season could be over when his troublesome shoulder popped out again last weekend. 

The club has opted not to book Salopek in for a fourth operation on his shoulder just yet, with the courageous onballer joining injured pair Brett Ebert (ankle) and Robbie Gray (hamstring) in a race against the clock to be fit for this week.

Davenport said he was optimistic the eight-day break between games could see all three key players get up for the clash.

“Sal’s injury is a bit of a reoccurring thing, so the doctors will assess that," Davenport said on Thursday. "We’ve got a bit longer to assess it [because of the eight-day break].

"I’m not sure where Ebo and Robbie sit, but I know Sal’s (injury) is something he’s a bit more used to and he’s probably going to be ready to go.

“You want to have your best 22 on the ground at all times. We’ve missed Robbie Gray over the last couple of weeks. Ebo is our leading goalkicker and Sal sets up the play for us, so it’ll be great if we can have them all out there.”

The Power have dropped their last five games and face a tough challenge up against an in-form North Melbourne.

Davenport said it was important his side went into the mid-season break on a high.

“North Melbourne has been playing really good footy over the last two or three weeks and it’s a big test for us to go down to Melbourne and play at Etihad Stadium,” Davenport said.

“It’ll be different conditions for us compared (to the heavy conditions we’ve played in) even to the last couple of months, so it’s a massive game for us as a club and we need to prepare well.”

Coach Mark Williams decided to try and lighten the mood of his players, with an impromptu paintballing session at Elizabeth on Thursday morning.

Davenport said the players arrived at the club strapped and ready to train only to be told they were to take part in the team bonding exercise instead.

“It was a bit of a shock. We did our meeting and walk-throughs and then were told we were going paintballing. I reckon the players would prefer to train, or a lot of the boys would anyway, I’ve never seen Dom Cassisi so nervous,” Davenport said.