Goldstein landed awkwardly in the first quarter of last Saturday's game but was able to shoulder North's ruckwork for the rest of the game.
Speaking at Aegis Park on Wednesday, Goldstein said he hoped to play against Port but his ankle was still sore and he had yet to train this week.
"Playing three-and-a-half quarters on it probably wasn't the greatest, but with the ruck stocks we've got at the moment it was what the team needed," Goldstein said.
"Talking to Brad (Scott) about it, we know I'm an important part of the team at the moment with Hamish (McIntosh) still a few weeks away. So we've just got to see how it goes. We won't take any risks.
"But I'll hopefully train tomorrow … and hopefully I'll be right."
It will be a significant blow for the Kangaroos if Goldstein is ruled out.
With Hamish McIntosh yet to play in 2011 after pre-season surgery on both of his Achilles tendons, Goldstein has become a vital player for North in his fifth season at the club, effectively playing as a one-man ruck division, save for the occasional breathers he gets from players such as Drew Petrie and Cameron Pedersen.
It's been a massive ask of a 22-year-old who had played just 37 games before this season, but Goldstein has been up to the challenge.
After being a late withdrawal from North's round one clash with West Coast, Goldstein has not missed a match. After round 13, he was ranked third in the competition for total hitouts (369, at an average of 33.5 a game) and was averaging 14 possessions a game.
He has done this under the new substitute rule, which has increased the game time of most players, particularly ruckmen. Although most teams played a second ruckman in the previous four-man interchange bench era, most now favour tall utilities.
But Goldstein says the new rule has not made his job noticeably harder.
"Not having Hamish there, I haven't really noticed it too much," he says.
"I haven't had too many breaks. I think it's probably made it harder for younger ruckmen, but for myself it's something you've got to deal with and I think I'm starting to get used to (it) now."
McIntosh is finally due to return in the VFL this weekend and Goldstein is looking forward to resuming the ruck partnership that was so effective for North in 2010.
"'H' (McIntosh) is a very important player for the club. It's been tough without him. I've done my best … but I can't wait for him to come back," he said.
After losing its first four games this season, North Melbourne has won five of its past eight matches, including its last three in a row, to sit just half a game outside the eight, in 11th place.
Although Goldstein was reluctant to look too far beyond Sunday's game, he said North's improved form and the recent return from injury of players such as Levi Greenwood and Ryan Bastinac meant it was now a chance to make the finals.
"I think we're starting to play the footy that's going to get us enough wins to put us in the mix, but it's hard to say," Goldstein said.
"We’re giving ourselves a chance to at least have a crack at it."
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @NickBowen71
