Port Adelaide will have to do without super utility Chad Cornes for the next six weeks after it was confirmed his battered right knee requires a second dose of arthroscopic surgery in as many AFL seasons.

Cornes's form trailed off badly in recent weeks, culminating in a particularly sore-looking display against Collingwood on Sunday night when he also sustained a calf injury, despite being eased into the match with a week of very light training.

He is booked in for surgery on Tuesday to take a closer look at the joint and also clean out any floating debris.

The need for another arthroscopy is concerning for a player who, at 29, has battled through plenty of sore spots - he missed the latter half of last season in an effort to get his body right for 2009.

Cornes joins tagger Matt Thomas and centreman Shaun Burgoyne in being sidelined by knee trouble, Thomas's knee strain against the Magpies expected to keep him out for a month, with Burgoyne still at least three weeks away from a return.

The Power could regain gifted forward Daniel Motlop for Saturday night's important fixture against Fremantle if he recovers from an ankle problem that kept him off the MCG.

The Dockers have their own injury concerns after finishing Saturday night's home loss to Richmond with as few as 16 fit players.

Des Headland is almost certain to miss out this week due to a quad strain, while Michael Johnson (ankle), Luke McPharlin (hip), Stephen Hill (corked thigh), Paul Hasleby (calf), Antoni Grover (shoulder) and Byron Schammer (groin) must prove their fitness.

Essendon, meanwhile, are breathing easier knowing ruck back-up Tom Bellchambers will not need surgery, escaping with bone bruising and minor ligament damage after being hurt in Sunday's loss to Geelong.

"The MRI result is quite good news because Tom won't require an operation," football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"He will rest his knee for the next few weeks and undergo rehabilitation.

"We are very pleased that Tom hasn't done any serious cartilage or ligament damage and he will be available for most of the second half of the season."

Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs can both look forward to the possible inclusions of savvy forwards Paul Medhurst and Robert Murphy respectively, while St Kilda are sweating on the condition of Sam Gilbert (ankle) and Stephen Milne (knee).

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