REINFORCEMENTS might be finally on the way from the medical rooms at Alberton to set up another tough selection meeting this week in the lead-up to Travis Boak's 300th AFL game.
"Rozee, Butters and Duursma would not be bad 'ins' this week, would they?" said Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett on Monday.
And there also is half-back Lachie Jones to consider after his successful rehabilitation from his second hamstring injury this season.
The anticipated returns of Butters (knee), Rozee (knee) and Duursma (knee) set up a fascinating match committee session to find the 23 to play Collingwood in round 19 while also rewarding the 23 who gave Port Adelaide a significant 13-point win against St Kilda in the Docklands at Melbourne on Saturday.
Butters is progressing faster than anticipated after injuring his right knee in his comeback match from a separate ankle/knee issue against Melbourne in round 17. Rozee should overcome the knee soreness he suffered in a "friendly fire" collision with key forward Charlie Dixon during the Melbourne clash. And Duursma has successfully managed two SANFL games after being injured against AFL premier Richmond in round 4.
"Duursma was very good in the SANFL (against West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Sunday), so I would be surprised if 'X' did not play AFL this week," Bassett said. "He is a hard worker; he asks plenty of questions because he wants to be the best he can. I really liked his game at the weekend. He was playing more inside and his toughness in the contest and his ability get from one contest to another gives him a chance to make us better as a footy team.
"Connor certainly feels a lot better after having the week off and would be a good chance.
"Zak's injury was not as significant as we first thought. He would be a chance to play this week.
"Lachie Jones trained last week and would be available. He would be more likely to come back through the SANFL given he has had a couple of extended misses with the hamstrings. He trained well last week, so he will play footy this week."
And specialist forward Orazio Fantasia (knee) should be in contention for the round 20 clash against Greater Western Sydney.
"Orazio moved much better last week," Bassett said. "We certainly expect him to join full training this week. Maybe not play this week but certainly join full training which he has not done since the initial operation (during the mid-season bye). We think he would be a chance the week after.
"It will be good to have a couple back (against Collingwood), but there is still a bit to work through. We are trying to give ourselves the best chance to have as many ready to go moving towards the finals."
The AFL fixture currently has Port Adelaide to host the 15th-placed Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Friday evening. But the expectation is this match will move to Saturday afternoon to allow the Victorian club to fly in, fly out - as Port Adelaide did on Saturday for the away win against St Kilda.
"We will (prepare) as we have the past 15-16 months," Bassett said. "We will prepare for any scenario. We will give the players the best possible information to give them the best chance to play this week."
Boak will become the sixth player - and second at AFL level - to play 300 senior matches for the Port Adelaide Football Club. His legacy continues to mount at Alberton, 15 years after arriving as a first-round draftee.
"Travis means so much to the footy club," Bassett said. "And to our playing group's commitment to Port Adelaide. His commitment to be the best that he can be in the way he trains ... we are going to be watching the Olympics later this week and Travis is one of those athletes who prepares like he is preparing for the Olympics each week
"He has a dedication that separates him from nearly everyone else. The guys are pumped for his 300th this week. Trav will let loose and I am expecting a strong performance from the team."
Port Adelaide's 12th win from 17 home-and-away matches restored the team's top-four ranking - and, more importantly, gave Ken Hinkley's crew more reason to believe in their capabilities, even when fully stretched by injuries.
"We had been through a bit during the week, in terms of who we lost, and it is always tough travelling on the day of the game," said Bassett in reference to the 5.45am wake-up and 9.45pm return home, along with the longer wait in the pre-game at Marvel Stadium.
"It is great to go through that and win. The players showed great courage and resilience to fight back a couple of times and get the win.
"The week before (in the 31-point home loss to top-four rival Melbourne) we had been toughish for three quarters but then had not hung in there as long as we needed to. I really liked the way we were able to play some pretty strong footy during the second and third quarters and then when we were challenged again in the last quarter we found a way to get the win. So, we keep building by having a lot of people contributing at the moment - people we did not expect to be playing as much AFL footy as they have this year. While they are doing their job, they will keep playing - and, hopefully, help us win."
Bassett dealt with the harshest edge of the injury curse last week when his forwards group was denied almost every small forward. He watched several players step up to ensure the gap did not become a chasm.
"Mitch Georgiades (four goals) stood up and played a real adult's game of footy," Bassett said of the 19-year-old key forward. "He has terrific talent. He jumps at the footy, he takes big marks, he runs so well. I thought his consistency through the game, and even though his numbers do not look too much different, he gave a great contest. He completed his work. He kept his feet.
"Boyd Woodcock came in and did a good job. He played his role (as an opportunist forward).
"All the guys gave a consistent effort to keep the ball in our half for as long as they could to give us some scoreboard opportunity. We probably did not take as many as we could have, but ... we kicked enough."
