An injury crisis has prompted Port Adelaide to take the unusual step of not nominating a captain for Sunday’s away AFL clash against Geelong.

Port’s entire five-man leadership group, headed by captain Dom Cassisi, won’t play against the Cats because of injury.

But instead of naming a short-term skipper, Port coach Matthew Primus wants seven players to assume leadership roles for the Geelong match.

“We have got seven players who have played over 100 games for us that we’re expecting to lead for the day,” Primus told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

“Like Sydney did for a two year period when they had four or five captains, we’ll have six or seven that are going to be in the different lines.”

Primus said Jacob Surjan, Troy Chaplin and Alipate Carlile – who will return from a club enforced ban for being unfit – would lead Port’s defence.

Onballers Kane Cornes and Danyle Pearce would steer the midfield while Justin Westhoff and Brett Ebert would command the forward line.

“We are going to expect them to really take control of their areas,” Primus said.

Primus said there was no need for a nominated captain against the Cats because the AFL’s multicultural themed round required a player of overseas origins to toss the coin.

Cassisi was expected to miss just the Geelong fixture with a hip injury, while vice-captain Travis Boak should return the following week from a foot injury.

Port’s other leadership group members faced longer absences – forward Jay Schulz (abdomen, six weeks); Hamish Hartlett (hamstring, four weeks) and defender Jackson Trengove (finger, four weeks).

The Power have also lost arguably their most talented player, Robbie Gray, for the season with a knee reconstruction.