PORT Adelaide skipper Dom Cassisi has rejected claims as many as six young players, including former first-round draft picks John Butcher and Andrew Moore, are unhappy at the club.

Youngsters on the Rise

Last week, The Footy Show reported Moore and untried forward Butcher had joined out-of-contract pair Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile in weighing up their futures at the Power.

Trengove, 21, has put contract talks on hold until late in the season and is considering a return to his native Victoria, while Wangaratta product Carlile is also yet to re-sign.

It's understood both players have attracted interest from at least one Melbourne-based club.

Port Adelaide's monetary struggles have been well documented, with the club set to receive $9 million in funding from the AFL over the next three years ahead of the financially rewarding move to Adelaide Oval.

The Power has also struggled on the field this season, slumping to last place on the AFL ladder after their loss to Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night.
 
Cassisi acknowledged times were tough, but said he was confident his young teammates were "really happy" to be at Alberton.

"I think it's purely just rumour. There's nothing to sense that young guys are unhappy at this club. It's the total opposite," Cassisi said on Monday.

"We've got so many young guys here and a lot of them are from interstate, so they are a really tight group … interstate guys tend to stick together and I've got no doubt they're really happy to be at the club.

"I think they [the young players] can really see the clear path Matty [coach Matthew Primus] wants to go down and they're excited by that.

"If guys are performing well in the SANFL, they're going to play games of AFL footy.

"It's a great opportunity for young guys to stay at the club, forge out their career here and make something out of it."

Last year, Victorian-born midfielders Travis Boak and Robbie Gray, and Steven Salopek resisted overtures from their home state to remain at Port Adelaide and Cassisi was confident Trengove and Carlile would also re-commit to the club.

"I've spoken to both of them. They'll make their decisions in time, but I'm confident they're going to stay at the club," he said.

"It's vitally important [Carlile and Trengove stay]. I can't stress the importance enough of those two guys.

"They are key-position players and really good players, but more importantly they are really great blokes that you need at the club. They're great characters and have leadership qualities."

Port Adelaide has a bye this weekend, giving the club a fortnight to prepare for its next game against cross-town rivals Adelaide.

Young onballer Hamish Hartlett is likely to miss the clash with the Crows.

Hartlett's shoulder dislocated for the second time in a month in the loss to the Demons, and he's likely to have surgery and join forward Simon Phillips, who had shoulder surgery last week, on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

Justin Westhoff (toe) should be available for selection against the Crows, meaning Primus will have to shuffle his forward line to include Westhoff, Jay Schulz and in-form veteran Chad Cornes.

The trio hasn't played together in the same game this season, but Cassisi said Cornes deserved to keep his place in the team after Westhoff's return.

"Chad's form over the last few weeks has been outstanding," he said.

"He always brings a few guys with him to show the same passion and emotion. It's just great to be back playing with him and having his experience out there.

"I know he's really looking forward to the rest of the games this year."

The break has come at a good time for Cassisi, whose wife was due to give birth to the couple's first child last week.

He committed to being present for the birth and was in doubt to play against Melbourne, but flew to Darwin on the day of the game when his wife hadn't gone into labour.

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill