MELBOURNE has dodged an injury bullet with defensive pillars Steven May and Jake Lever.
The full toll of May’s nasty collision with Hawthorn forward Mabior Chol is two cracked ribs and a crack in the transverse process – the bony projection on either side of the vertebrae.
But the Demons are hopeful May will only miss one game, given there was no lung puncture and his availability will be based on pain management.
Lever’s innocuous knee injury has had a similarly positive outcome, with the intercept specialist only dealing with minor soreness and every chance to play this week against Port Adelaide.
While Harrison Petty may need to be shifted back to defence against the Power to compensate for May’s absence, the prognosis is encouraging for a Melbourne side who improved to 3-1 against the Hawks.