AS MANY as seven players could return to the field for Port Adelaide between now and round one.

Leading those returns will be Jack Hombsch and Cameron Hitchcock who have recovered from respective ankle and plantar fascia injuries.

Hombsch rolled an ankle prior to the club’s opening NAB Cup game, but has recovered well over the past two weeks and is training fully, while Hitchcock needs to pass a fitness test this week.

“If Cam [Hitchcock] gets through training then he’ll play this week, although we haven’t yet decided whether he’ll play AFL or SANFL footy,” Director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"Jack is in a very similar situation and as long as he gets through training and pulls up well then he'll play as well.

"He’s completed about a week and a half of training and is good to go.”

Veteran Dom Cassisi will also be assessed again after being rested again last Sunday, but is expected to return after the West Coast encounter.

Angus Monfries (hamstring) and John Butcher (hip) are likely to be fit to play within the next fortnight while Brent Renouf (knee) and Tom Logan (patella) are tracking well for a return at the start of the season proper.

Richardson says the club is very pleased with the rare opportunity to reach round one with just two on the injury list, barring unforeseen incidents in the next two NAB Cup games.

Only Robbie Gray and Nick Salter are listed as indefinite as they recover from respective knee and foot injuries.

“It’s really positive,” said Richardson.

“It doesn’t mean every player is 100 percent match fit but it does mean that, with no injuries between now and then we’re in really healthy shape.

“It will be a case by case basis but if it is that they’ve had no footy until then they’re unlikely to fit straight into the team and will probably return through the SANFL.”

Injury list after NAB Cup round two
Jack Hombsch – rolled ankle (assess)
Cameron Hitchcock – plantar fascia (assess)
Dom Cassisi – calf (1-2 weeks)
Angus Monfries - hamstring (1-2 weeks)
John Butcher – hip (1-2 weeks)
Brent Renouf – knee (2-3 weeks)
Tom Logan – patella tendonitis (2-3 weeks)
Robbie Gray – knee (indefinite)
Nick Salter – foot (indefinite)