JACKSON Trengove's pain at being ruled out until round one with a shoulder injury is shaping to be Port Adelaide defender Tom Clurey's gain.

Trengove had surgery on his shoulder on Thursday after injuring it at training on Tuesday.

Although he's expected to start running shortly, Trengove is unlikely to play a game of football until the club's round one clash against Fremantle on April 5.

He visited his teammates on Friday morning and the club said his surgery was without complication.

His absence leaves the door wide open for he likes of Clurey or Cam O'Shea to prove to coach Ken Hinkley that they deserve more playing time in 2015.

O'Shea played 12 games for the Power last year, including the three finals but Clurey, 20, didn't add to his round-one debut.

Port defence coach Matthew Nicks told AFL.com.au Clurey's combination of size and endurance meant he was a versatile option.

"Tommy Clurey's probably the first guy that comes to mind in terms of a young up-and-coming key defender … he now gets even more of an opportunity to show he's up to it," Nicks said.

"It was hard for him last year, he was playing a slightly different role [in the SANFL] to what he would have played with us.

"We were playing him on key forwards, he's probably a second or third tall defender because he's got an elite engine.

"With ‘Jacko’ out, whether that takes Tom Jonas to step up and play key back and allow Clurey to come in and play as a third defender – that's the sort of thing you start to look at.

"There's also some other guys, Cam O'Shea plays tall, we're not short on tall players."

O'Shea was one of Port's standout performers during its pre-season camp in Dubai, but had a minor groin operation during the Christmas break.

The 22-year-old is already back into full training.

As well as the opportunities presented to O'Shea or Clurey, Nicks said Trengove's stint on the sidelines would help preserve his fitness late into the season.

"We've really struggled to get him through these pre-season times – we've had some issues over the last two or three years where something like this has come up and he's missed a big slab," Nicks said.

"But I guess what it does do, when you get into the later part of the season he's still fresh."

Twitter: @AFL_Harry