Porplyzia, who has nursed a shoulder injury for most of the latter part of the season, proved worth the risk on Saturday with two goals against the Western Bulldogs, but his availability is still a week-to-week proposition.
The classy forward, who is desperate to keep his September dream alive, had a brief chat with coach Neil Craig at Wednesday’s training session and said he would know his fate by that afternoon.
“Craigy and I were just discussing our plans for this week and whether we’re going to go ahead [with me playing] and we’re yet to make that decision,” Porplyzia said.
“I’m still planning on going ahead and, at this stage, we’re going ahead.”
Porplyzia has been a revelation for Adelaide this season after initially being dropped from the club’s rookie list back in 2005.
The 23-year-old returned to the Crows line-up in round 22 having spent three weeks on the sidelines recovering from brain bruising.
But it’s shoulder injury that’s caused him the most grief.
Porplyzia’s shoulder has popped out routinely over the past few months, including back in round 17 when he managed to come back on the field and kick five goals to sink the Sydney Swans.
The former West Adelaide junior said his desire to play finals football was the reason he continued to push through the pain and uncertainty of the shoulder injury, which will require surgery at season’s end.
"I want to be a part of a successful finals campaign and part of a successful team. I believe that we're a good chance of pushing deep into the finals … that's why I've kept pushing ahead,” he said.
“I still believe I can be a valuable contributor to the side … Once the point comes where I'm not going to be able to contribute, that's the time to stop. But until that point comes I believe I can contribute and I want to still contribute.”
Porplyzia, embarrassed by all the attention his troublesome shoulder has received, said he’d learned to cope mentally with the injury, but conceded there were some things on the field he was limited in doing.
Porplyzia said the fact that Saturday’s game is a knockout final would not come into the equation in the final decision.
“I spoke to [Neil Craig] yesterday about that and he said don't base your decisions around it being a final, treat it like it is another game.
"And it's great that Craigy and the coaching staff are backing me in and backing my decision in with the shoulder."
Craig and the Adelaide selection committee have come under scrutiny for opting to play the winged Crow, but Porplyzia maintained there would be no further risk of injury.
“I can reassure the fans there's no further damage been done to the shoulder that won't be fixed during surgery,” he said.
“I spoke about that to the surgeon and the doctors here at the football club. Once I go in and get it fixed I'm expected to make a full recovery.”
