The SANFL pre-season has come to a close and Port Adelaide is preparing for a big Round 1 clash with Adelaide to kick off their season. Image: AFL Photos.

PORT ADELAIDE coach Matthew Lokan says his side is ready for the SANFL season despite a heavy 63-point loss to an experienced Adelaide side at Alberton Oval.

The club also had solid hit-outs against reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens and North Adelaide in the pre-season to help integrate a host of new players into the group.

Lokan said the opportunities to gel as a group across the past three weeks have been significant.

“You look at (Saturday’s) result, we got convincingly beaten against a really strong Adelaide side, but for us, it was about getting some game time into some guys, getting contracted guys to mix with our AFL guys and I actually think we've done that,” he said.

“I actually think we're ready for the start of the season and we spoke to the boys after the game about the trial match period.

“We feel like we've set ourselves up ready to attack the season and I think that's what you want to get out of the trial matches is ready to go for round one and I certainly think we are next Friday.”

Cam Sutcliffe controls the high ball in Port Adelaide's SANFL trial against Adelaide. Image: Brandon Hancock.

Lokan’s side had a good look at an Adelaide outfit which it will face again in the SANFL season opener at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon.

The Crows were on top early on Saturday and the coach said his side had been “jumped”.

“We just weren't able to slow them down,” Lokan said.

“Our team defence needed to get better and I thought for the last three quarters in large patches of those quarters, we were able to do that.

“There were certainly some positive signs.”

Despite the loss, there were some highlights from the midfield, in particular reigning SANFL best and fairest Sam Hayes.

“I thought Sam Hayes was great, not sure he would have lost too many centre bounces,” Lokan said.

“Our midfield Sam Mayes, Sam Hayes, Trent Dumont were all really solid for us.

“I also thought that's one of the better games that I've seen Marty Frederick play across half back.”

Impact-player Marty Frederick impressed coach Matthew Lokan across half back in his side's final pre-season game. Image: Brandon Hancock.

In injury news, Miles Bergman got through the game unscathed in his first match since off-season shoulder surgery.

“He's a super fit athlete and got through really well,” Lokan said.

Friday night’s SANFL season opener against the Crows will get underway at 4:10pm at Adelaide Oval.