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AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Port's Fantasia fit for rest of AFL finals

Orazio Fantasia (l) should overcome a knee injury and feature in Port Adelaide's preliminary final. (AAP)

Port Adelaide have dismissed lingering concern over trump card Orazio Fantasia, declaring the qualifying final hero fit for the rest of the AFL season.

Fantasia's eye-catching four-goal performance was cut short when copping a knock to his left knee.

The goalsneak was substituted in the last quarter of the 43-point win over Geelong.

Fantasia has played 14 games in his debut season with Port after being troubled by soft-tissue injuries at Essendon.

But the Power's football manager Chris Davies says the 25-year-old has plenty of time to recover for their preliminary final on September 11 in Adelaide.

"Raz, we are confident is going to play," Davies told reporters on Monday.

"We won't bother with scans in the short-term, rest over the next two or three days ... we expect him to be available."

Fantasia missed the last home-and-away game because of hamstring tightness but was recalled for the qualifying final to replace injured forward Mitch Georgiades.

Georgiades has recovered from his hamstring strain and could play in state league ranks this weekend.

Barring mishap, the 19-year-old is available for the clash against the winner of this Saturday's semi-final between Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs.

Georgiades' recovery puts further pressure on selection at Alberton, with fellow tall forward Todd Marshall kicking one goal from nine disposals against the Cats.

"We are getting closer to feeling like we know what our best 23 is," Davies said.

"I don't think there's any doubt that the coaches have got options."

Power players have two days off from Tuesday before re-setting for their second-straight home preliminary final - falling last year to eventual premiers Richmond by six points.

But Davies felt Port, on a seven-game winning streak, were better prepared this time around.

"We have had more challenges thrown at us throughout the minor round this year which suggests, we should be better placed," he said.

The Port chief also backed the removal of the pre-finals bye, saying the winning qualifying finalists should be rewarded.

"It has worked pretty well for us," Davies said.

"My personal view is that rewarding the top teams is important ... but I am not going to go to war over it.

"It has been a good thing for us this year, it might not be good for us down the track ... but right now we're pretty comfortable."

The September 25 grand final in Perth will be preceded by a bye.

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