Rockliff ruled out for AFL Shanghai clash

Port Adelaide have suffered a serious blow for their big AFL clash with St Kilda, losing star midfielder Tom Rockliff to a hamstring injury.

Co-captain Tom Jonas was also sporting half a dozen stitches to his forehead after some friendly fire during Thursday's training at Jiangwan Stadium, but he is not in doubt.

Port will regain defender Ryan Burton (hamstring) and ruckman Scott Lycett for Sunday's clash.

After convincing wins over Gold Coast in the first two years of their China campaign, St Kilda will be a much tougher proposition for the Power.

The two teams are at the crossroads of their seasons with 5-5 records and a win will be a significant boost heading into their mid-year byes.

Rockliff, who had played every game this season, suffered the injury in last weekend's loss to Hawthorn.

Coach Ken Hinkley said they wanted to give Rockliff every opportunity to prove his fitness after he ran well on Monday.

After some running drills on Thursday, Rockliff cut a dejected figure as he sat on the bench during training.

"He's too good a player not to give that opportunity to," Hinkley said.

"I know it's a long way to go, but from a club point of view we have to be prepared to take every opportunity we can to have our best players out there."

Hinkley also acknowledged that the stakes are higher this time in Shanghai.

He added that Port are determined to build Shanghai into a formidable home away from home venue.

"We haven't probably had as big a drawing card as far as where both sides are on the ladder," he said.

"No disrespect to Gold Coast but we're here now with two teams 5-5, season really alive, fighting for a fair bit.

"We had some good comfort around what Shanghai was, how exciting it was and also the importance of it to us as a football club and the AFL.

"It's really important though ... that we continue to win here, that we make it feel more like a home ground for us than it does for the oppo."

Pressure will be a key focus for Port after last Saturday, where they failed to match Hawthorn in Launceston.

"That's almost St Kilda's one wood, too, that they're a pressure side, they've brought a lot of heat to every side that they've played against this year," Hinkley said.

"They've been in every game they've played.

"It's whether you can handle it (pressure), whether you can deliver it."