Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr holds a "glimmer of hope" out-of-contract star Zak Butters will follow his housemate's lead and re-sign with the AFL club.
Key forward Mitch Georgiades inked a fresh two-year extension with the Power this week, rejecting interest from rival clubs.
But all signs point towards restricted free agent Butters moving home to Victoria, where a host of suitors are lining up with offers for the two-time All-Australian midfielder.
The Western Bulldogs have long been in the hunt for Butters' signature, with Geelong, Richmond and Collingwood also interested in the Power vice-captain.
Carr expects to have a clearer picture of Butters' playing future soon after Port's season-ending clash with Essendon on Sunday.
"Hopefully there's a bit of pressure on the home front," Carr said.
"We have to be realistic and we have to understand what the competition looks like when it comes to free agency and trade and players moving.
"We prepare for that and have those discussions about what that looks like, but we've still got a glimmer of hope."
Asked why he remains hopeful when the rest of the football world seemingly believes Butters is on the move, Carr laughed: "Why not?"
"He's a pretty good player and has obviously played football with us for a long time and he's got great mates here, and you just never know," Carr said.
"We have seen it before with players that get to the end of the year and suss out the whole situation and then in the end they work out that where they want to be happy is with us.
"I've had discussions with him and we talk about all scenarios and what it looks like. I'm really comfortable with where that sits."
Butters has not played since sustaining a "high-grade" ankle syndesmosis injury during a loss to St Kilda in round 18.
He pushed for what could have been a possible farewell appearance against Essendon but was not included when the extended 25-man squad was named on Thursday night.
The match is a dead rubber, with both Port (6-16, 15th) and the Bombers (2-20, last) out of finals contention.
Power defender Aliir Aliir (concussion) and ball-winner Jason Horne-Francis (broken toe) will both sit out.
Georgiades was already contracted for next season but had attracted plenty of attention from rival clubs, particularly in Western Australia.
But Carr insisted he was always confident his fellow Sandgroper would recommit to the Power.
"He's been an integral part of our direction and he's really grown as a leader within our football club," Carr said of the 24-year-old goal-kicker.
"I'm really happy for him, but also for us as a footy club."
Port are hoping to end a six-match losing streak when they take on Essendon.
