A calf injury to Port Adelaide's ageing spearhead Warren Tredrea has afforded Brett Ebert a chance to ease himself away from the AFL trade table - or increase his value as bait - when the Power face North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Tredrea's absence means he will be unable to farewell his Power foundation teammates Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne as he would have liked, but does mean Ebert gets a final opportunity in 2009 to prove the promise he showed in 2007 has not been entirely lost.

Two years ago Ebert was among the most feared small forwards in the league, and a vexing match-up because of an aerial ability far in advance of his 179cm frame.

But he has since meandered into mediocrity, kicking 33 and 25 goals in 2008 and 2009, as against the 56 tallied in `07.

Power coach Mark Williams said Ebert needed to do more at ground level.

"It's a little inconsistent. He's played 100 games, we've sat and watched his video, we talked about it, and he understands where he has to improve," said Williams.

"Everyone around Australia knows he's a wonderful mark, and a great kick at goal, and he just needs to get more balls that are on the ground."

The 2009 trade period is a time where Port are expected to be especially active, given their urgent need to patch up several holes, particularly in the ruck.

Williams predicted difficulties for the club in getting exactly what was required.

"It's harder than you think, we'd certainly like to (get) maybe two or three players, but reality is there's probably only one that ever gets done if you're lucky," he said.

"You go in there with the greatest of intentions, but whether the other clubs think you're trying to rip them off or they want to keep all their players or they don't want to swap the ones you want to swap, all those things add to it.

"With the quality of the draft and the concessions coming through there's probably more possibility this year, but there's no promises."

Williams called on his players to give their best in honour of Lade and Burgoyne, but admitted that after two maddening seasons the team based at Alberton Oval would require plenty of frank discussion and hard decisions in the off-season.

Presently in 10th spot, the Power can sneak undeservedly into the finals if they beat the Kangaroos by a massive margin provided Hawthorn defeat Essendon, but Williams wasn't holding his breath.

"We want to get out there on Saturday night and play as best we can and whatever happens after that happens," he said.

"We're not dangling anything in front of (the players).

"It's about pride, playing well for the other guys (Lade and Burgoyne) and respecting our supporters who have been with us all year.

"The priority (after Saturday) is really getting together as a whole club and discussing where exactly we're at, laying it out on the table, being as honest as you can and trying to manage the way forward."

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