PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams says vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne is unlikely to play against league leaders St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

Burgoyne missed last week’s win over Hawthorn after copping a heavy knock to his knee against Melbourne in round three.

The star onballer also experienced tendonitis in the same knee over the pre-season.

Williams said the club would send Burgoyne for precautionary scans on the joint.

“I don’t think Shaun will play,” Williams said on Thursday.

“We’re 99 per cent sure that it’s just bruising but we want to get any doubt in our minds out.

Skipper Dom Cassisi will return to the side having served a one-match ban for striking and ruckman Dean Brogan has been given the all clear, despite missing Wednesday night’s training session with a head cold.

Williams said gritty half-back Nick Lower was also a chance to play his first game of the year in the absence of suspended onballer Matt Thomas.

St Kilda hasn’t beaten the Power in Adelaide in nearly 12 years, but Williams said the visitors were in better shape than ever to break that drought.

“It’s a huge test. We see St Kilda as a genuine top-four side, one that’s on the rise and one that is really on the top of their game,” Williams said.

“Their tackling has been outstanding and their ability to stop the opposition getting inside50m is well acknowledged. (Coach) Ross Lyon has had a couple of years there with them now and has got them playing the way he wants them to.

“Clearances, tackles and contested ball will be the things that determines who wins. I don’t think Tommy Logan will be taking mark of the year this week.”

The out-of-contract Williams was again forced to respond to speculation about his coaching future.

One betting agency has the premiership coach a short-priced favourite to be at Richmond next year, but Williams said he hadn’t spent ‘one second’ thinking about a potential move to Punt Road or anywhere else.

“That’s why I’ve always kept away from betting,” he said.

“Last week, I can guarantee there weren’t many people that bet that we’d beat Hawthorn, but we did, so I’m not sure if they (the bookmakers) always know.”

The player who best exemplifies the ANZAC spirit in the traditional clash between the two sides night will be awarded the Peter Badcoe VC Medal. 

Williams said he would use an ANZAC-related presentation to inspire the players on Friday night.

“My dad was a return solider himself and I was very proud to be given his medals when he died,” Williams said.

“He was in the navy and he actually learned the morse code. He showed us how to do that years and years ago, but hopefully I don’t need any SOS’s halfway through the last quarter.

“We’ve seen Hawthorn and a couple of other sides walk the Kokoda Track and we’d like to think we spout some of the traits of sacrifice, hard work and mateship, but when it comes down to it they were in a real war and we’re only in a make-believe one.”