PORT Adelaide will enter the internal trial on Family Day next Friday with just three players unavailable due to injury.

Dougal Howard (ACL), Angus Monfries (shoulder) and Jesse Palmer (groin) will all miss the February 17 trial game with injury, while several others will be managed because of workload.

But the news is better for Charlie Dixon (foot) and Logan Austin (leg), with the pair having recently returned to full training and expected to play.

High performance manager Darren Burgess said Dixon would be assessed in the lead-up to Family Day.

“At this stage, (Charlie) will play some role in the intra-club match depending on what we think he needs,” Burgess said.

“Whether that’s half a game or a full game, but then he’ll be available throughout the (JLT Community Series).”

Austin has also returned to full training and will have some game time next Friday, but both he and Dixon would be managed with an aim of being fully fit for Round 1.

Meanwhile, Dougal Howard is making significant progress from his ACL injury and has joined the main group for non-contact drills.

“Doogs is flying,” Burgess said.

“He’s training really well and if anything we’ve held him back a little bit just because he’s a big guy.

“He’s on track for a return around about where we thought, which is between 10 and 12 months from when he did his injury.

“He won’t play in the intra-club or JLT series but he’ll be available pretty quickly after that.”

Angus Monfries continues his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and is likely to miss the first two JLT Community Series games, but should be available after that.

Jesse Palmer has had some tightness in his groin and has had his training load decreased as a result.

“We’ll use caution with (Jesse) being a young player. He’ll be available for Round 1, but will play a limited role in the JLT series.”

Injury list as at Tuesday 7 February:
Dougal Howard (ACL)
Angus Monfries (shoulder)
Jesse Palmer (groin)