Port Adelaide head coach Ken Hinkley may be forced to shuffle his magets inside 50 for the umpteenth time this season following reports that rising spearhead Todd Marshall was in "some doubt" for Saturday's do-or-die semi against GWS.
Despite featuring during the Power's himbling defeat to the Lions last Saturday, Marshall has been working against a hip complaint, an injury that saw him miss Port's final round win over Richmond.
Speaking to the press on Monday, Hinkley's assistant Nathan Bassett pressed that Marshall's hip complaint had played a role in Port spurning several set shots against Brisbane when the game was in the balance.
“It wasn't a great night for us (accuracy wise), we missed a few shots,” the former Crow was quoted by News Corp.
“Todd has a few extenuating circumstances around his kicking.
“It wasn't a great one for our finishing… but it was more than that.
“He has had some hip issues and we are waiting on a few scans, he is one of them and we will find out more.
“Yeah, I would imagine he would be in some doubt.”
Yet, in brighter news at Alberton, should Marshall miss, the spearhead's void will likely be filled by his bearded partern in crime, Charlie Dixon, after the 32-year-old failed to make the trip for the qualifying final.
“Charlie has run four times and he will certainly push to train and he will want to play this week,” Bassett added.
“Charlie is a great competitor and he holds others to great account in the forward line and in the whole team.
“It is always nice to have his presence out there.”
At the other end of the ground, Bassett remained upbeat about Trent McKenzie's chances of lining up against the Giants, even despite the defender's ankle complaint.
“Trent, you would like to think he is some sort of a chance this week anyway."
In spite of his inability to train, Aliir Aliir is also a live chance to return from injury to help restump Port's rearguard.
“I think Aliir will be better off for another full week of training, to not train last Thursday he probably didn't play quite at the level that we are hoping for but I am really confident that I have seen enough from Aliir that he will play strongly this week,” Bassett stated.
“I don't think it impacted the way he played too much but he wasn't comfortable.”
Port Adelaide and GWS will do battle at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with the winner to progress to face Collingwood in a preliminary final.