PORT ADELAIDE midfielder/forward Zak Butters is making good progress with his knee injury and will join the main group at training on Thursday.

Butters was substituted out of last week’s loss to Melbourne after jarring his right knee while marking the ball in the third quarter.

Scans confirmed the 20-year-old sprained the medial collateral ligament, which was initially thought to keep him out for a few weeks, but the knee appears to be progressing ahead of schedule. His knee will be assessed further in training on Thursday to give more clarity on his availability going forward. 

First-year defender Lachie Jones is close to making a return from a hamstring injury suffered in the win over Gold Coast last month. The 19-year-old is training strongly and expected to be available for selection next week.

Forward Orazio Fantasia has made progress in his rehabilitation after a knee arthroscopy and is now running, while fellow forward Robbie Gray will resume running this week after his knee operation last month, and remains on target for a return to the field late in the season.

Port Adelaide will on Thursday evening name its side for Saturday night’s encounter with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

Injury list

Trent Burgoyne – hamstring (season) 

Zak Butters – knee (TBC)

Orazio Fantasia – knee (2-3 weeks)

Kane Farrell – knee (season)

Lachie Jones – hamstring (1 week)

Robbie Gray – knee (4-5 weeks)

Tom Rockliff – DVT (TBC)

Taj Schofield – hamstring (3-4 weeks)