Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams has backed recruit Jay Schulz to fill the forward void left by veteran Warren Tredrea's serious ankle injury.

Tredrea has conceded there's a possibility he may have played his last AFL game after having surgery on an injured ankle this week.

Should his recovery go to plan, Tredrea should return in the last month of the season, an absence which has opened the door for Schulz, recruited from Richmond at the end of last season, to make his mark at Port.

Schulz has been brought into Port's team for their home match against Carlton on Sunday, an encounter between the competition's sixth and seventh placed sides.

"He played pretty well for us right from the practice games and it's pretty hard to get Tredders out of the side, he has been such an institution at the club," Williams said on Saturday.

"Tredders getting injured, it really does give him (Schulz) and a couple of others an opportunity to show what they can do for the future."

Schulz was one of two changes to Port's side which defeated Essendon last week to notch their fifth win from seven starts, with goalsneak Cameron Hitchcock replacing injured defender Nathan Krakouer.

Carlton, with a four-three win-loss record, has not altered their side which hammered St Kilda last Monday night, with Williams impressed by the Blues' balanced lineup.

"They have some outstanding talls and some very outstanding small players, so it will make it a difficult day but one we are really looking forward to, it's a huge challenge," he said.

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