Veteran's return in doubt amid fresh Port injury blow

Port Adelaide will take the long view on the club's longest playing career, with veteran Travis Boak doubtful to return to AFL ranks this weekend.

The 36-year-old hasn't played in the AFL since round seven when he injured his back.

Port's games record-holder returned in state league competition last weekend, collecting 35 disposals and breaking an SANFL record in the process.

Boak's previous SANFL game was in 2007 - the 18-year period is the longest gap between games in the state league's history.

And while Power coach Ken Hinkley says Boak will be discussed at AFL selection meeting, he may not return for Saturday's home game against Geelong.

"We should be really careful when we talk about Trav," Hinkley told reporters on Wednesday.

"We're trying to get him in to a position where he can have a strong back half of the year at the very least and make sure he's OK physically.

"And I think getting him through this week and next week, and seeing how he feels and his body goes, is really important to us, but what level we do that at will be decided later."

Hinkley has one big hole to fill, with play-making half-back Kane Farrell sidelined for four to six weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on a knee.

"It's a challenge when you lose good players," Hinkley said.

"But we've got a bit of depth in that position.

"And we improved that depth, we put a bloke called (Connor) Rozee down there and he's going OK, so we've got some support down there that can help.

"We've got some good players ... who can come in and certainly support that role."

Hinkley noted Port (13th, 4-5) and Geelong (seventh, 5-4) enter the Adelaide Oval encounter after close losses - the Power by five points to Adelaide, the Cats by four to GWS.

The fixture is also a rematch of last year's qualifying final, when Port crashed to an 84-point defeat to Geelong.

"A high-quality team who we've played a fair bit - and they've beaten us a couple of times at different times, and we've been able to beat them a couple of times," Hinkley said of the Cats.

"It sets up a pretty interesting week for both teams, I would have thought.

"We're both coming off narrow losses, we both need to win."