ALL-AUSTRALIAN defender Aliir Aliir is booked in for syndesmosis surgery following Port Adelaide's bruising encounter with Brisbane on Saturday night.
The setback could potentially sideline Aliir for eight weeks. Port Adelaide assistant coach Nathan Bassett confirmed the disappointing news on Monday and suggested Sam Skinner could be an option to replace Aliir.
Aliir has been outstanding for us and is difficult to replace but Skinner, who can take an intercept mark in a similar way to Aliir, is a chance to come in, Bassett said.
It was a brutal match for Port with fears that defender Trent McKenzie could also miss a substantial period of time after he was stretchered off with an injured knee.
Bassett confirmed that McKenzie had no major damage to the knee and he was an "outside chance" to play in round two when Port meets Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.
The scans are good for Trent and he's just hyper-extended the knee, Bassett said.
Young star Xavier Duursma was also hurt in the contest when he was collected by Lions warrior Mitch Robinson.
Robinson's bump was graded as careless conduct, high contact and medium impact and he received a one-match ban.
Duursma left the field with a sore collarbone but he's also a chance to play against the Hawks after the damage was considered minor. Robinson is appealing his suspension.
Bassett said Port veteran Robbie Gray and young gun Connor Rozee would be assessed during the week, but the club was optimistic about their availability.
He said No.12 draft pick Josh Sinn was a chance of making his debut in round two after he was overlooked for the season-opener.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/724534/port-star-to-have-surgery-but-incredible-news-for-the-cannon-