JASPER Pittard's hamstring injury could open the door for Trent McKenzie to be elevated into Port Adelaide's season-opener against Fremantle.
Pittard suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Power's 26-point win against Adelaide in their JLT Community Series clash at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said it was a typical hamstring injury that would see Pittard out for up to three weeks.
"Looks like a hamstring, pretty simple, he won't play round one," Hinkley said.
McKenzie didn't play against West Coast in the Power's first JLT game a fortnight ago, or in the first half against the Crows, but looked at home across half-back when injected into Saturday's contest, finishing with 10 disposals.
The 25-year-old played 106 games with Gold Coast before joining the Power as a delisted free agent.
"Trent McKenzie was really strong in the second half when we put him out there," Hinkley said.
"We had nine defenders out there so it's going to be tight, but that's what we want, performance pressure."
Fellow recruit Jack Watts was the man of the hour, booting six goals in an outstanding display.
The 26-year-old was much maligned during his time with Melbourne, but has quickly become a Power fan favourite.
"Jack was great today," Hinkley said.
"He plays for the team and whatever the outcome, he handles it pretty well.
"I think that's been a hallmark of Jack Watts the person, being able to handle the pressure that he's been put under, but he doesn't change.
"The six-goal performance, he'd be happy that he's played well, don't get me wrong, but it won't change what he does or what the team does."
Hinkley said Chad Wingard and Jared Polec pulled up well after both played half the game as planned in their comebacks from hamstring injuries.
On the other side of the ledger, Crows skipper Taylor Walker (foot) and midfielder Brad Crouch (abdominal strain) are far from certain for their round one encounter with Essendon.
"They've got some work to do," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
WATCH: Don Pyke's post-match press conference
"We get them back in next week and we'll see how they shape up at the end of it, (then) it's a question of how many guys with an interrupted pre-season do you want to carry into an AFL game?"
Defender Alex Keath missed the second half with an ankle injury, but Pyke didn't think it was serious.
The positive for the Crows was the performance of 18-year-old forward Darcy Fogarty, who booted three goals.
"That's why we drafted him, we know the talent he's got," Pyke said.
"It was great to be able to see him produce that at AFL level, albeit in a JLT game.
"He didn't do himself any harm for round one."
