Port Adelaide defender Esava Ratugolea is in doubt for the start of the 2025 AFL season after requiring surgery on an injured knee.
Ratugolea was assisted from the field at training earlier this week after hurting his knee, with the former Cat since undergoing a procedure that has seen his meniscus trimmed.
The Power are hoping to have the 26-year-old back into their program within a month.
"Esava Ratugolea has undergone a minor procedure on his knee to prepare him for the upcoming AFL season," a club update read.
"Ratugolea had his meniscus trimmed on Wednesday following an incident at training earlier in the week.
"The defender is expected to reintegrate back into training within the next month."
Ratugolea's setback is untimely for Port Adelaide, which faces Collingwood at the MCG in less than a month to start their 2025 season.
The Power is set to be without fellow key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher for the start of the coming campaign due to a recent acute lumbar disc injury sustained during the pre-season.
The Alberton club are scheduled to face Adelaide and St Kilda in the coming weeks as part of their pre-season schedule, with coach Ken Hinkley now likely to shuffle his defensive assets in the wake of Ratugolea's setback.
