ADELAIDE'S Jason Porplyzia is expecting to be hit hard on his troublesome right shoulder by Collingwood opponents in Saturday's first elimination final, despite assurances from the Magpies that they would not target an injured player.

"Since Mick (Malthouse) has been at the club we've never targeted guys with injuries," said Pies ruckman Josh Fraser. "But once you're out there, you're out there to play a game of footy. If the ball's there we expect our bloke to go win the footy."

If Porplyzia's shoulder is popped out, he said he would experience a feeling that the shoulder was not quite sitting right. "There's a bit of a clunk," he said, "… and once it goes back in there's a bit of relief."

This is Porplyzia's game plan, just like it has been for eight weeks. Unlike last week, he survived a solid training session yesterday, and after a discussion with coach Neil Craig, Porplyzia declared he was right to go again.

Not surprisingly, the finer details of how Craig and his key small forward are approaching this week remained between them, but there seems no doubt Porplyzia will play. A final decision was to have been made last night.

"I am ready for anything," Porplyzia said. "If Collingwood gives me the old bump here and there then I am ready to cop that. My focus will be on making sure I am attacking the footy hard. I haven't copped too much; nothing unsportsmanlike … all within the rules of the game and you have to be prepared for that.

"It's (shoulder problem) been on-going for most of the year, so mentally I have had to deal with it … I'm coping all right. I have had a lot of time to deal with it, so it's not an issue."

However, Fraser insisted that his teammates would not be told to target the young forward.

"I don't think you'll see anyone target him specifically," Fraser said yesterday.

"Our blokes will be going in to win the footy, but I wouldn't imagine he'd be targeted."

Porplyzia said he would not think about protecting his shoulder once he ran out onto the ground.

"I don't really think about it when I'm going for the ball. I know there are certain things I'm limited in doing. I don't try and guard, but try and make sure I am not put in a situation. I have learned that I have to deal with the shoulder and get the best out of myself in other ways knowing that I can't do everything that I want to do. It has been a great learning curve.

"I want to be part of a successful finals campaign and I believe we are a good chance of pushing deep into the finals, and I want to be a part of that. I still believe that I can be a valuable contributor. Once the point comes where I can't be a contributor I will stop."

Porplyzia dismissed suggestions that he risked permanent damage by playing with a shoulder that was repeatedly dislocated, and believed he would make a full recovery once he had surgery.