PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams is confident Shaun Burgoyne will remain at the club next season, despite the star onballer requesting more time to weigh up his future.

Burgoyne, 26, put off contract talks with the Power until the end of the season after suffering severe bone bruising below his knee in round three.

He missed 13 rounds with the injury and underwent more corrective surgery to repair damaged cartilage earlier this week.

Media speculation has linked Burgoyne to the Sydney Swans, a club that has plenty of room in its salary cap given the retirement of six of its senior players.

Williams said his vice-captain had "a lot going on in his head" and wouldn't be rushed into making a decision.

"Shaun's brother (Peter) has retired. He's been here for a long time. He's just had an operation on his knee and his wife recently gave birth, so we're very happy for Shaun to take a bit of time," Williams told afl.com.au.

"He knows how much we need him and we love him. Hopefully, he decides to stay."

Williams said long-term injury left any player – regardless of their calibre – vulnerable to feeling disillusioned.

"What I've learned over the years is that it doesn't matter if you're the best or the worst player on the list, if you have an extended time out of the game, you lose your self-esteem," Williams said.

"You lose your position in the club and start to question where you belong, who your friends are and who's supporting you because everyone else has to get on with the next week.

"You walk past and ask an injured player, 'How are you going?' but it’s a difficult time for them.

"We have welfare people, psychologists and fitness coaches to help, but managing those players for an extended period of time is a challenge for anyone … Shaun has come off all that."

Burgoyne has played 157 games for the Power since his 2002 debut and was a member of their 2004 premiership side.