PORT ADELAIDE could finalise its SANFL League list a week out from the opening round match against Norwood according to Magpies senior coach Garry Hocking.

Hocking will make his debut as the senior coach of the Magpies against the Redlegs at the beginning of April, but he will leave the final call on his remaining SANFL-only players as late as possible.

He wants to give the club's younger Academy candidates who are impressing on the track the opportunity to stake a claim for the remaining positions in that group.

"We don't need to put our list in until the week before Round 1, so we're still giving some boys an opportunity to show their stuff post-Christmas," Hocking told Triple M.

"We've been back in training since early January and I've been really impressed and delighted with the numbers we have out at training and the way they've applied themselves not only before Christmas, but post-Christmas."

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Port Adelaide's new-look Magpies outfit will have a greater compliment of AFL talent next year after it successfully negotiated the integration of its football program with the SANFL in September 2013.

While Hocking acknowledges the Magpies League team will have a different look to it, he says it will provide a significant boost to the culture of the football club.

He says changes across the competition - with just three SANFL coaches staying at their 2013 teams - will make for a fresh new league in 2014.

"Things are going to look a little bit different this year, but it gives the opportunity for all our players to play under the one umbrella, playing together and playing some good, strong team footy," Hocking said.

"There's been changes from other clubs within the SANFL as well, which will probably mean some new ideas coming in to the way the game is played.

"I think only three teams have the same coach as last year, so new ideas and methods will help make SANFL footy in this city nice and strong."

A decision on the Magpies captain and leadership group is expected by mid-March.

The club may also look to feature some AFL-listed players in the wider leadership group to assist in their development, while senior Magpies Steve Summerton and Henry Slattery have been taking a more active leadership role at training according to Hocking.

"It's been good to retain Slatts and Summo - both have been really good at training and taking some drills," Hocking said.

"It gives me the opportunity to look around and assess our list at training.

"We'll sit down in the next four to six weeks and finalise the captaincy and also the leadership group.

"We should also acknowledge that some of the AFL boys could come across and be part of the leadership group mix within our Magpies side,  which will help with their development too."