Carlile was named to play the Crows before he withdrew from the squad on Saturday, robbing an already understrength Port of some much-needed experience.
Speaking as an ambassador for Australia Post and the AFL's Boots for All initiative - which aims to supply disadvantaged teams with second-hand football boots - Carlile said he should be fit to play the Bombers.
"(In the) last couple of sessions towards the end of the week, it just started tightening up and the doctor said it's not really worth pushing," Carlile said.
"It just tightened up a bit mate, it's nothing serious, (I) should be sweet."
The Power were no match for their cross-town rivals on Sunday, thrashed by 60 points in both sides' first NAB Challenge game.
Port rested most of its better and more experienced players, using the trial to offer its draftees and younger players a taste of AFL football, with coach Ken Hinkley declaring the result was of no concern to him.
Carlile said the positive to come out of the result was the form of several inexperienced players.
"There was some really good signs from Karl Amon ... Daniel Flynn showed some really good stuff as well and we got a chance to see some guys in the backline that probably haven't had much game time," he said.
Young defensive duo Tom Clurey (19 possessions, seven marks) and Jack Hombsch were also impressive, playing against far more experienced forwards.
Carlile has worked closely with both this summer and said he was excited by their development.
"Tommy Clurey is up there with the best runners at the club and we're just working on his game sense, he's coming along really well, and the same with 'Hombschy'.
"Hombschy has been outstanding, (he is) one of the strongest in the gym and a fantastic runner too.
"I'm sure they'll slot in."
Carlile is set to be joined by more than a dozen teammates when he returns to the line-up to face Essendon.
Paul Stewart joined Carlile at the club's community camp in Whyalla and said he expected a much more competitive showing against the Bombers.
"It's going to be a different outfit this week … we've got probably 15-odd players coming back in," Stewart said.
"All the boys are fit and ready to go and I think the intensity will lift up and the skills definitely will be a lot better."
Having been forced into a variety of positions in the past few years, Stewart introduced himself to students as a forward.
His 22 possessions and two goals against the Crows was evidence of what came naturally and although happy to play wherever Hinkley saw fit, Stewart said he felt most at home in attack.
"I'm just happy to play wherever 'Kenny' (Hinkley) wants me, if that's down back or in the midfield but I'm pretty comfortable down forward at the moment," he said.
"[I've] been working a lot with Tyson Edwards (forwards coach) - he's helped me out a lot.
"I played my juniors as a forward and I feel comfortable up there."
