Port Adelaide's leadership vacuum has grown exponentially, with the news that captain Warren Tredrea and classy midfielder Steven Salopek will miss the rest of the 2008 season.

Tredrea, out of contract at the end of the year, is more than likely to require a full shoulder reconstruction after suffering a partial dislocation late in the Power's loss to Fremantle on Sunday.

Salopek will be off his feet for some time to combat Achilles tendonitis, which re-emerged against the Dockers in his second game back in action.

"The odds are that Tredders will have a total shoulder reconstruction - we think it will happen that way, which obviously means he won't play again this year," Port coach Mark Williams said.

"He's disappointed with the shoulder injury because his last few games have been pretty good and I thought he played really well on Sunday, especially coming off of the Kangaroos game, which was probably his worst game."

At the start of the year there had been genuine doubt about Tredrea's capacity to last beyond the end of 2008, but Williams said he had done enough to be offered another contract for 2009.

Tredrea will also remain in contention to captain the club next year, despite his own admissions that Port should start to look elsewhere for a figurehead.

"We talked to Warren about his future and he's certainly going to be offered a contract for next year," Williams said.

"This year I've really noticed his passion for tackling and chasing and things that we haven't really seen for his whole career, so that's been great.

"His attitude is one of disappointment for the club and where we are, but he's pretty confident (of returning).

"He's a determined guy and if he can overcome the knee injuries he's had, this is pretty run of the mill for him.

"It's probably going to be six months but it's three months without any running, so it'll be right on time for starting pre-season again."

Minus the current skipper and a possible future captain, plus stalwarts Brendon Lade, Chad Cornes and Michael Wilson, Port will instead hand leadership duties to Shaun Burgoyne for Sunday's encounter with St Kilda at Telstra Dome.

Following a limp loss to the Dockers, Port are straining to find a greater level of on-field spine.

"For the individuals playing it's an important time, there's quite a few young blokes trying to forge their way, and there's five or six who want to stay on the list," Williams said.

"They'll get something out of that and we'll certainly get greater knowledge of how they can handle it.

"It's not easy playing when a lot of your stars are out, but I think they can show some glimpses of what might be next year.

"The senior players that are there, they get an opportunity and it's a really important time for them to lead and show some of the stuff the other leaders have shown them in the past."

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