Port Adelaide linchpin Chad Cornes says he'll be sidelined a month after having a plate and screws inserted into a broken finger.

Cornes says his earliest possible return is round nine after having surgery on Sunday to repair his right ring finger, broken during Port's victory against St Kilda on Saturday night.

"There were bits of bone and bits and pieces everywhere," Cornes said of his injury.

"They put a plate across the top of the break and six or seven screws in it as well, so it was a pretty decent break."

Cornes and Port's doctor initially thought the finger was dislocated.

"We had a crack at trying to put it back in and realised it was pretty much broken and not dislocated," he said.

The injury means Cornes can't play for the Dream Team against Victoria at the MCG on May 10.

"I am pretty disappointed about that, I was looking forward to that weekend, playing with and against the best players in the league," he said.

"I never got the chance to play State of Origin and obviously this is the closest thing to it.

"There is no possible way I can get back quicker than what we're planning and obviously club footy is way more important than that game."

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