Esava Ratugolea is a live chance to play in Round 1 as he overcomes minor knee surgery from an injury sustained earlier this month.

Ratugolea had his meniscus trimmed after suffering an injury at training and has since been on the mend, striding towards a hopeful Round 1 return.

Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes confirmed Ratugolea's strong progression, with the key defender set to "play some minutes" in an intra-club match simulation next week.

"(Ratugolea)'s going really well. He was moving well at training a few days ago," Cornes said.

"There's a chance he might play some minutes in our internal next week. So if that goes well, a possibility for Round 1.

"He's recovered really well."

Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson will continue his switch to the backline as the Power handle a depleted defensive unit for a second consecutive practice game.

Finlayson swung down back to aid a Power side without Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in Port Adelaide's unofficial scratch match against the Crows last week, and will be expected to do so again as the two sidelined backmen remain out of the side on Saturday.

So depleted are Port Adelaide's key stocks at the moment, medium-sized defender Miles Bergman found himself tussling with the tall bulky units of Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe in the trial game.

While Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher's delays to the year are expected to be short, it leaves Finlayson likely to become part of a makeshift backline for at least Round 1.

Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes doubled down on the left-field choice, holding faith in the versatile veteran.

AFL hands down Jeremy Finlayson ban for homophobic slur
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Jeremy Finlayson of the Power catches the ball during the warm up before the Second Qualifying Final AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide Power at The Gabba, on September 09, 2023, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

"Jeremy will play a bit more time down back, as he did last week. I thought he showed some good signs there," Cornes said.

"The beauty about 'Jez' is he can play anywhere, and he's shown he can play anywhere, so (defensive coach Tyson Goldsack) was really happy to have him.

"He can even pinchhit in the ruck and if it doesn't go well down back - we're expecting it will, and he'll be able to hold up really well for us - he can always come back forward, as we know, he can do some real damage down there too."

The Power's Community Series match takes place against St Kilda on Saturday afternoon, before taking on Collingwood at the MCG in Round 1.