Port Adelaide have lost their best player, Daniel Motlop, for eight games with a broken ankle.

Motlop suffered a fractured ankle in Port's 93-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

The mercurial forward had surgery to insert a pin into his left ankle on Monday night, the Power said on Tuesday.

The news is a massive blow for Port, already suffering from the loss of key players through injury.

Motlop had missed the previous two games with an ankle ailment only to return against the Bulldogs in Darwin and re-injure himself.

Port said the ankle fracture was not related to his previous injury.

The Power remain uncertain when star onballer Shaun Burgoyne will return from knee surgery, while utility Chad Cornes (knee) and midfielder Travis Boak (knee) are both expected to miss another five weeks.

The injuries and poor form have conspired to leave the Power's season teetering at six wins and six losses.

Inconsistent performances have heaped pressure on coach Mark Williams, whose contract expires at season's end.

Williams reportedly has a clause in his contract stipulating a June 30 deadline for Port to inform him whether the club wants to extend his contract.

The 2004 premiership coach is likely to be sounded out by Richmond and North Melbourne following the respective departures of coaches Terry Wallace and Dean Laidley respectively.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Lions tagger Troy Selwood will be sidelined for at least four games because of the dislocated shoulder he suffered against Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.

Selwood will undergo surgery on Thursday, but the Lions have already ruled him out for the next month.

Collingwood are hopeful key defender Nathan Brown will overcome a minor knee injury he suffered in the win over Melbourne on the Queen's Birthday holiday to play Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The Magpies will test Brown's fitness at training this week, ahead of a possible clash with Swans forwards Michael O'Loughlin or Barry Hall.

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