PORT Adelaide is hopeful key midfielder Matt White has avoided a fractured jaw, which would make him available for next week's semi-final against Fremantle.

 

White was subbed out of Sunday's 57-point elimination final win over Richmond with a suspected broken jaw after being hit while trying to tackle an opponent in the second quarter.

 

It was the third time in as many weeks the speedster had been subbed out of a game.

 

Power coach Ken Hinkley said White wanted to return to the ground in the second half but he was instead taken to hospital for assessment.

 

The club wasn't able to confirm the seriousness of the blow but hoped White had avoided a serious injury.

 

"We're not sure, he's at hospital, he's getting checked out," Hinkley said after the game.

 

"Right now as I sit here we're very hopeful - the initial thought was that he may have broken his jaw, but we're very hopeful right now that it's not a broken jaw.

 

"If we dodge a bullet there we'd be very, very pleased and if we don't, we'll bring someone else in to take his spot."