PORT Adelaide currently boasts one of the longest injury lists in the League, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel with a handful of stars expected to return in the coming weeks.
There was good news for veteran midfielder Brad Ebert, who was cleared of any serious damage on his brain after he has scans at the Florey Institute in Melbourne earlier this week.
Ebert will miss a second consecutive match with concussion symptoms when he sits out the Power's clash against the Suns on Sunday, but assistant coach Nathan Bassett is hoping the experienced 29-year-old won't be sidelined for too long.
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The Power travel to China to tackle the Saints ahead of their mid-season bye in round 12, with Ebert earmarked to return for their round 13 clash against the Dockers in Perth.
"Brad had the scans, got the results and I think he will miss the next couple of weeks," Bassett said on Saturday.
"There aren’t too many significant issues there, so he should be OK post-China.
"There is slight swelling there, but a couple more weeks he should be fine."
Brad Ebert has been cleared of any serious injuries to his brain after these two clashes: https://t.co/5xEc2SQeIV pic.twitter.com/mQO1jDJWd9
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) May 18, 2019
Bassett said fellow veteran Robbie Gray (knee) may be available for the Power's next match against the Hawks in Tasmania, while power forward Charlie Dixon is making good progress from his leg issues and could return just after the mid-season bye.
FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?
"He (Dixon) has made really good progress the last couple of weeks and we are still quite positive about (him returning in) four weeks," Bassett said.
"It was good to see a couple of other guys looking good on the sidelines.
"Tommy Jonas is looking good, Ryan Burton is moving pretty well, so hopefully we will get a couple back soon."
With so many stars on the sidelines, an inexperienced Power side – including debutant Joel Garner and second-gamer Billy Frampton – will take on the Suns on Sunday in an attempt to reverse a two-game losing streak.
Home ground advantage means the Power enter the clash as strong favourites, but Bassett knows that Stuart Dew's side won't be a pushover.
"The good thing for the footy club is we get to see where some of the young guys are at and we get to grow our list," he said.
"No matter who we are playing at the moment there would be no guarantees on winning.
"The excitement, the attitude of the players and the way they have approached training has been exceptional, so I’d expect a good performance tomorrow."