REINFORCEMENTS are on the way. Midfield tyros Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters - both lost to the injury list after the preliminary final rematch with Richmond on April 9 - are making reassuring progress on the recovery track.
And vice-captain Hamish Hartlett is carrying a strong vote of faith from senior coach Ken Hinkley to play a significant part in Port Adelaide's push for a top-four berth to the AFL finals series in September.
Duursma is most optimistic on his comeback from knee surgery needed after a collision with a Richmond rival late in the two-point win at Adelaide Oval.
"I am well ahead of schedule," said the hard-running wingman on Adelaide radio on Thursday. "I am three weeks away, I hope, from a return (to competitive football)."
Butters is not putting a timeline on his return after first needing ankle surgery in the fall-out with the clash with the AFL premiers - and later unexpected knee surgery to correct a nerve damaged in the same incident at Adelaide Oval.
"It's just a bit too soon," said Butters of placing a return date against his name.
"But there are some positive signs. In the follow up with the surgeon (this week) he was pretty happy with what he was seeing (with muscle build-up around the knee).
"It felt good (to return to the training track last week) and it is probably the best I have run since the injury. I actually got some speed which I had not been able to get at all since the surgery.
"I am looking at the next few weeks ramping up my speed."
Hinkley is anticipating the reinforcements saying: "We look forward to the day we can get Xavier back, we can get Zak back - even Jackson Mead who has had a significant injury (ruptured spleen) and so coming back shortly and we get Scott Lycett back (from a four-game suspension in round 14).
"There are a lot of people we look forward to getting back in our side."
Hartlett misses his second AFL game this week but gained a reassuring vote of confidence from Hinkley to continue his march towards the 200-game milestone in the national league.
"Hamish is one of our great people," said Hinkley of the 192-game half-back. "He has been with me the whole time, the nine years (since 2013). There are not many of them - maybe six.
"So these are decisions you don't take lightly. You consider the person and you invite them into the conversation very early on. We have done that with Hamish so that he is well informed with where he is at and what he has been doing and how he needs to get himself back into some form.
"Great credit to him, Hamish knows exactly what is going on. He is a great team person to have at your football club. We know he will play well quickly and get back in the side.
"We help bring him back to where he needs to be - as a really consistent member of the team. You don't have to be anymore than that.
"You love that he wants to be a really important part of the team. He just needs to play his role within the team. 'Hammer' does that for us more often than not.
"I have great respect for him and we are right in his corner helping him get back into good form so that he can be back in our team."
Out of contract at the end of this season, 30-year-old Hartlett holds Hinkley's faith to remain relevant to Port Adelaide's future.
"Don't write off great players," Hinkley said. "We see it all the time - older players, such as Travis Boak and Robbie Gray, who are playing close to as good football as they have ever played. Rob is 33 and Trav is turning 33.
"Footy is challenging; you have ups and downs. Right now I have real confidence Hamish will find a way back.
"You respect experience. You would be foolish to try to send off your good players too early. And we are not like that."
