Tom Rockliff and vice-captain Hamish Hartlett included in Port Adelaide squad heading to Shanghai to take on St Kilda

Hamish Hartlett heartbreakingly missed Port Adelaide’s trip to China last year after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament but will join Tom Rockliff in the squad for Sunday’s big clash.

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Hamish Hartlett heartbreakingly missed Port Adelaide’s trip to China last year after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament weeks earlier.

But in good news for the Power vice-captain, he will be among the travelling 26 who jet out to Shanghai on Tuesday, as the side prepares to face St Kilda in a must-win game at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium on Sunday.

But whether he plays is still undecided.

Hartlett’s comeback to AFL level has been hampered by persistent hamstring tightness, but he got through Sunday’s SANFL game against Glenelg unscathed while also picking up 18 disposals and kicking a goal.

Port’s forward coach Nathan Bassett confirmed Hartlett would travel with the team.

“He got through (the SANFL) unscathed,” he said.

“He was happy enough with the way he went and he’s been out for a long time, so it’s a big ask to expect him to play just yet, but he’ll be travelling with us.”

In more good news for Port, Bassett said scans on Monday had cleared Tom Rockliff of damage to his hamstring and the dynamic ball-winner would also fly to Shanghai.

Rockliff left the ground during the third quarter of Saturday’s 31-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston and finished the game sitting on the bench with ice strapped to his left hamstring.

Port Adelaide’s Tom Rockliff didn’t finish Saturday’s game against Hawthorn in Launceston after feeling cramping in his left hamstring. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

“The scan was pretty good, he’s had a run today, so he’ll be on the plane,” Bassett said.

“We wouldn’t take him if we didn’t think he’ll be a good chance to play, we think he’s a good chance.”

Ruckman Scott Lycett will also be Shanghai-bound, as will defender Ryan Burton if he passes a fitness test on Tuesday.

Sunday’s game is hugely important for the Power whose season sits precariously: their 5-5 record sees them 10th on the ladder, with a difficult trip to Perth facing them after the bye round.

Hamish Hartlett got through his SANFL game for Port against Glenelg on Sunday unscathed and will travel with the Power to China. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards

Bassett admitted the team’s performance on Saturday was “very difficult to watch”, particularly being held scoreless for the first term.

He admitted that some long soul-searching had been done to address the slow starts.

“We had a good couple of hours to talk about it (Monday) morning,” he said.

“At the moment, we’re a youngish team and we have to get ourselves in a place so that we’re ready to play from the first contest and be consistent from the start, we haven’t done that for a good four to five weeks.

“For the last three or four weeks, we’ve changed training to have more of a contest focus early … at the end of the day, we’ve got to turn up and get our jobs done at the start of the game.”

Port Adelaide will welcome back ruckman Scott Lycett for their Round 11 game against St Kilda in Shanghai on Sunday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Bassett said the forward line also continued to be a work in progress.

“At times you’ve got five guys in there on 10 games or less of AFL experience so we’re trying to help them develop as players as best we can and give them every opportunity to be good players,” he said.

“There’s enough talent there, it’s more around experience, working together and trusting their game.”