PORT Adelaide star Paddy Ryder will wait until Friday before making a call on his availability for the Power's finals-defining encounter with Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Ryder (hip flexor) and in-demand winger Jared Polec (hamstring) weren't sighted at the Power's training session at Alberton Oval on Wednesday morning.
Defender Dan Houston (neck) also remains in doubt for the clash with the Magpies after he was on light duties away from the main group.
"Paddy and Polly are still a little bit sore from the weekend, so we've got to make sure we monitor them during the week and give them the best chance they can of getting up for the weekend," captain Travis Boak told AFL.com.au on Wednesday.
"If that means they train the day before, that's what we'll do.
"They're important to our group and we're still pretty confident those two should be right to go.
"If both play, they'll be fit to go, we won't go in 50/50 and not sure if they will get through the game.
"Both will need to be right and we'll give them the best opportunity to make sure that they are."
Ryder re-aggravated a hip flexor injury in the Power's heartbreaking four-point loss to West Coast at Adelaide Oval last Saturday night.
Last year's All Australian ruckman sat out the majority of the second half but will do everything he can to make the trip to Melbourne and go head-to-head with Magpies big man Brodie Grundy.
"It's a huge game and I want to be involved in it," Ryder told The Advertiser.
"I've played the whole year feeling pretty sore through my hip so it's nothing new, and if I'm able to test well on Friday there's a pretty good chance I'll be playing.
"Walking around at the moment, nothing feels too bad, so with a bit of rest I'm hopeful of playing.
"It's day by day, I'll have a few days off legs and let it settle a bit and wait until Friday when we have our captain's run and the guys will test me out to see how I'm feeling."
Polec – who is the subject of a reported $3.5 million, five-year deal from North Melbourne – felt soreness in his hamstring after the loss to the Eagles and went in for scans on Monday.
Houston was taken off the ground in a medicab in the third quarter after a collision with Eagles midfielder Brendon Ah Chee.
"He walked a few laps and did a bit of jogging and kicking at training today," Boak said.
"He's still got a few tests to get through, but pretty confident he'll be right to go."
The Power (12-8) are clinging to eighth spot after losing four of their past five games.