PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams says midfielder Steven Salopek could spend the rest of the season on the sidelines after dislocating his troublesome shoulder for the second time in two weeks.
 
Salopek first injured his shoulder in the round 10 loss to Richmond, but was able to return to the field.

The unlucky 24-year-old was confident of being able to play out the season, but was sent to hospital during the third quarter of the game against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night and is expected to be booked in for a fourth operation on his right shoulder.

The Power sustained six injuries in the 38-point loss to the Swans, with Salopek, Brett Ebert (ankle), Chad Cornes (concussion), Jackson Trengove (corked hip), Hamish Hartlett (corked thigh) and Jacob Surjan (knee) all in doubt for the must-win clash with North Melbourne next weekend.

Port Adelaide was already without forwards Warren Tredrea (ankle), Daniel Stewart (ankle) and Robbie Gray (hamstring), as well as half-back Nathan Krakouer, and Williams said injuries were starting to take their toll on the club.

“In the last quarter tonight we really didn’t have any replacement players and it made it very difficult to do anything,” he said.

“We were just hanging on with injured players coming off and getting replaced by injured players that were on the bench … the third quarter gave us some sort of anticipation of being able to do something, but it all fell in a bit of a heap.

“There will be some changes made next week, that’s for sure. I’m not sure with the injury count tonight, but speaking to the doctors and physios there might be six players not playing next week.

“You can get a little hot-headed on some changes, but if you start mentioning names and then you work out that you don’t have any other people in reserve to play in those positions it would be a bit premature.”

Williams said those changes would not include out-of-sorts forward Daniel Motlop.

Motlop was held goalless again on Saturday night and further frustrated fans by giving away two 50m penalties.

Williams said he would continue to show faith in the enigmatic goalkicker.

“Motts missed most of the pre-season and he missed the first six weeks. He’s struggling a little bit, but we’ll continue to go with him and hope that he can pick up some form,” Williams said.

“If the ball is not coming inside 50 it’s very difficult for a forward. He’s not showing the absolute brilliance that we’ve all seen in the past, but I’m sure it’s not too far away.

“He was really disappointed with the 50m penalties. We’ll have to talk to the umpires about what exactly was going on there, because he was a little disappointed with what happened.”