Scans have confirmed a worst-case scenario, with the pacy utility to miss the next three months of the AFL season.

White, along with returning wingman Jared Polec, plays an important role in Port’s run-and-carry game style.

He tore his right pectoral muscle during Port’s round-one win against St Kilda and will have surgery next week, Port said in a statement on Wednesday.

Port’s high performance manager Darren Burgess says White is ruled out until at least round 14.

“It’s a complete rupture to the pectoral muscle, which for Whitey will mean he misses at least 12 weeks,” Burgess said in a statement.

“It’s really disappointing for him. Unfortunately the symptoms present similar irrespective of the severity of the injury, so we couldn’t confirm the detail until the scans.”

Port will consider placing White on the long-term injury list, enabling a rookie to be promoted.

Meanwhile, unlucky Geelong player Nathan Vardy has suffered a sprained foot and will miss up to six weeks.

Vardy, 24, was kneed in the foot after a marking contest in a VFL practice match.

The ruck-forward has endured major knee and hip problems in his career, and has played just 24 games since being drafted in 2009.

“This was just an unlucky incident during the game,” Geelong football boss Steve Hocking said.

“Nathan will be in a boot for a couple of weeks as he continues to heal.”

-with AAP