Port Adelaide onballer Hamish Hartlett says his damaged shoulder is "fair game" for AFL rivals until he has season-ending surgery.

Hartlett dislocated his left shoulder eight days ago, but played on Sunday in Port's loss to Brisbane.

The 20-year-old hopes to carry the injury for another month before having surgery and expects opponents to target the wonky joint.

"The Brisbane boys certainly knew about it because they were targeting it, although I don't know if they did their homework too well because they actually smashed into the right one a bit more than the left," Hartlett said on Monday.

"It would be a different story if I dislocated it yesterday and they were trying to bash into it.

"But if I wasn't fit to play, I wouldn't have been out there, so it's fair game as far as I'm concerned."

After two seasons cruelled by soft tissue leg injuries, Hartlett perversely appreciates his new injury.

"I'm glad it's shoulders and not hamstrings and quads this year, to be honest," he said.

"I have obviously had my fair share of soft tissue (injuries) over the last couple of years.

"They are not the injuries you want to get, especially at a young age like mine.

"Having a shoulder over a hamstring, I'll take that any day of the week."

Hartlett said his imminent operation will give him a full pre-season to prepare for 2012.

"I want to get a full pre-season under my belt," he said.

"If that means cutting the season short for me by three or four weeks, then so be it.

"I can play as much footy up until probably round 17 or 18 which is something I wanted personally. I'm on a pretty good run at the moment which I haven't been over the last couple of years."

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