PORT ADELAIDE assistant coach Jarrad Schofield is expecting both Todd Marshall and Xavier Duursma to be fit to feature in the club’s Preliminary Final next week.

Marshall injured his shoulder in the early stages of the Qualifying Final win over Geelong last Thursday but was able to return to the ground and kick a goal late to seal the result.

Schofield says the 21-year-old will make full use of the week off and should be available for selection.

“I understand it’s just an AC joint,” Schofield said of Marshall’s injury.

“He got a bit of a whack and it’s a bit sore now but we’ve earned the right to have the week off and we give him an opportunity to get himself right.

“We’ll manage him this week and I daresay the medical staff will have to put him through his fitness test and then there’ll be a decision as coaches of if there’s any risk factor to it but I’m sure Todd will be fine.

“At this time of the year, there’s a lot of boys playing sore and they find a way to get through.”

Duursma left the field after being concussed in the third term when he came off second best after courageously flying in for a mark.

“I think he’s a bit sore but all reports say he’s fine,” Schofield said.

“I spoke to him on Friday and he said he was more sore body-wise than head-wise.

“He was upbeat after the game and he’s a tough kid, he does that week-in, week-out, and once again we’ve got the luxury of having this week off to give him the opportunity to rest and recover but we expect there’ll be no concerns with him and he’ll be fine to go.”

Other than Marshall and Duursma, Schofield said, there was a full list to choose from, putting the club in a strong position as it waits to find out who it will play against on Friday 16 October.

Twelve players who did not feature in the Qualifying Final headed up to the Gold Coast to take part in a match simulation session, splitting up between teams featuring Geelong and Richmond players.

Schofield explained that it was important match practise, even if it was strange to see players like Justin Westhoff wearing another club’s colours.

“It was good for them to get up there and have a run around in slightly unusual circumstances for some of them but all reports, Westhoff and Lienert and Bonner played well but they all put a good show in and represented the club proudly which was pleasing,” Schofield said.

“It was probably strange for Hoff playing so many games and then putting on a Tigers jumper but for someone like him it shows the character of the person.

“He’s our elder statesman and he’s still keen to make sure he put his case forward to have his name up for selection and he performed well and did the right thing as the others did as well.

“As he’s shown, Hoff, he’s around the mark but we’ve got a lot of players playing some good footy and that’s a healthy position for us to be in.”

While Schofield admitted he and his fellow coaches would be keeping a close eye on the game involving Richmond and St Kilda, he said he did not have a preference as to which side would be coming to Adelaide for next week’s Prelim.

“We wish them all the best and hope that it’s a hard-fought game between the two of them,” he joked.

“We’ll watch the game closely as players and coaches – we’d be silly not to.

“It’ll be a fantastic game between those two and whoever wins, we’ll make sure we’re prepared for them.”

Schofield will also be listening out for any update regarding crowd sizes at Adelaide Oval with reports the capacity may be increased ahead of next week.

“It’ll be great for us and great for the loyal supporters,” he said.

“If the Government choose to let more in, the more the merrier – it’ll be fantastic.

“But 26,500 sounded like about 50,000. We knew we were going to have great support and we were very pleased with the performance our guys put in for our loyal supporters.”