PORT Adelaide is dismissing any concern over All-Australian midfielder Zak Butters, who is dealing with an eye infection ahead of the qualifying final against Geelong.
Vice-captain Butters was withdrawn from a scheduled media conference at Alberton Oval on Monday and replaced by his skipper Connor Rozee.
"I actually haven't spoken to him directly but from all reports I think he's fine, I'm sure he's sure he's going to be fine for this week," Rozee said of Butters.
Port forward Todd Marshall is determined to press his case at training for a possible return from concussion for Thursday night's Adelaide Oval encounter against the Cats.
Marshall missed the Power's last two home and away games after suffering the latest in a string of concussions in his 115-game career.
"Todd is pretty keen to have a crack this week at training and to see how it feels," Rozee said.
"And I'm sure if he's fresh and feeling good to go, then he'll put his name in the mix."
Port must find a replacement for half-back Kane Farrell, who tore a hamstring against Fremantle and has been ruled out of the finals.
Farrell's absence compounds the loss of fellow defender Dan Houston, who has served one match of a five-game suspension which sidelines him for the entire finals campaign.
"It's disappointing especially for them personally, and as a group," Rozee said of the play-making backmen.
"I really feel for them that they're going to be missing this finals campaign.
"But I definitely feel like the strength of our group this year has been our depth and the next person in mentality has been amazing."
Port earned a home qualifying final by finishing second on the ladder but last season was bundled out of September with consecutive losses.
"I don't think we probably handled the pressure as well as we probably could have," Rozee said of last season.
"We had a few guys that hadn't played finals before and a few guys that were missing as well with injuries.
"We're in a great spot as a team at the moment.
"We have put together a few good months now of consistent football and have had to adapt our game style a little bit each week depending on who we've been playing.
"And I certainly think our finals experience of last year, and even the few years before that, will certainly hold us in good stead, for the younger guys especially who know what it feels like to play in finals."
