LAUREN Arnell's group has a full agenda on Saturday when Port Adelaide returns to Alberton Oval chasing its first W in W. And while the immediate focus is on honouring captain Erin Phillips in her 50th national league game, respecting the Indigenous culture on Kaurna land and living up to favouritism against Sydney, Arnell is still looking at the bigger picture.

"What we are building (in the AFLW program) is very much around the growth mindset - and constant improvement," said Arnell as Port Adelaide prepares for its fourth game on the national stage and second at home at Alberton Oval.

"As a club, (the mission statement) is 'Chasing Greatness'. To chase greatness, you have to be better every week. There are times when you get comfortable as an athlete. But you have to push the boundaries every week. That is what I am seeing in our group. Any Port Adelaide person will see that when the team runs out each time - constant improvement. And the right attitude. That is what I am seeing."

Externally, the vision this weekend is narrowed to one game against Sydney with so many reasons to demand Port Adelaide perform to the "Port Adelaide way".

"Indigenous Round is at the forefront - and Erin has made a point of saying she wants Indigenous Round to be at the front of mind for everyone (on Saturday)," Arnell said. "So, we will do that.

"And we do know it is our captain's 50th game.

"Erin is a fantastic person, a fantastic leader. We spoke a little bit (on Thursday night) to the group about how much more there is for Erin at Port Adelaide. The current legacy she is building is unmatched. It is a privilege to coach Erin.

"The experience Erin has (as an international athlete with an Olympic record and exposure to professional US sports) she understands what is in front of her."

Port Adelaide, with a 0-1-2 win-draw-record, is favoured to secure its first win in the 18-team AFLW. Arnell will see her "Inaugurals" carry an expectation that should become the norm at Port Adelaide where the long-standing club mantra is "expect to win".

"Whether we are favourites or underdogs, that is external to what we do," Arnell said. "Our focus is how we get better each week and continue to believe in ourselves and improve each quarter.

"I genuinely expect application of attitude and effort and bravery across four quarters.

"Our anticipation every week is high," Arnell added. "We are looking forward - particularly in Indigenous Round - to showing we are improving as a team.

"There are exciting opportunities (in this game). We, as a football club, always have had rich Indigenous community and culture among us. I am so excited to celebrate part of that (on Saturday).

"We have approached every round to be as highly competitive as we can. We have put ourselves in a winning position in the previous three weeks - and we will look to do the same (on Saturday)."

Arnell's "big picture" vision is critical to ensuring her side does not lose its way after all the enthusiasm from a new adventure is challenged by the need to work harder to achieve on-field results.

"As senior coach, I look at our attitude when things are going well. People's attitudes when things are going well, particularly in pre-season, is always good," Arnell said. "(But) it is a real test of your culture - and your real attitude - when things do not go your way. I can't fault our group. They have been absolutely fantastic - they turn up, they learn, they show progression. Anyone who has watched our first three games has seen growth and progression across those three games.

Port Adelaide faces a fellow new AFLW entry for the first time with Sydney carrying a 0-3 win-loss record, on Kaurna Country this Saturday.

"Sydney is open to talking about how brave they want to move the footy," Arnell said. "If you have seen any of Sydney's games, you would have seen that."

Port Adelaide is compelled to make one change with the loss to the ruck battery of Liz McGrath with a hamstring strain. This leaves basketball convert Olivia Levicki to find a new support ruck - as to be noted on Friday evening with the announcement of the line-up.

"Olivia last week in the Carlton game did a fantastic job teaming up with Liz McGrath against possibly the best ruck in the competition in Breann Moody," Arnell said. "You can expect Levicki to spend more time in the ruck again this week."

And the back-up?

"You'll see," answered Arnell.

As winter drags to its final days with constant rain, Arnell feels her team's trademarks will be well suited to wet-weather football.

"We know our strengths are contested possession and ground ball, so I am comfortable with where our selection is at," Arnell said.

"(The weather) will probably impact Sydney's selection after they have gone in with a pretty big team in the past couple of weeks."

The wet conditions do set up the prospect of a heavily contested game that works to Port Adelaide's league-leading profile as a hard-tackling team. And it leaves the question of whether Port Adelaide is being rewarded for its tackling in a league that seems to have a longer threshold for the ball carrier when deciding holding-the-ball calls.

"We are the No. 1 tackling team in the competition," Arnell noted. "That is something I am really proud of and we control that. We look forward to maintaining that No. 1 position throughout the (10-game home-and-away) season.

"We apply ourselves - and I am proud of the fact that in each game we win our fair share of possession."

But are the Port Adelaide players being rewarded for their tackling?

"We can only do what we can do," is Arnell's diplomatic response.

Port Adelaide's three games against West Coast, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton have featured surge scoring - but not enough regular scoring across the match. For Arnell, this will change as her players spend more and more time understanding each other on the field under game-day pressure.

"We build consistency and connection each time we play," Arnell said. "It is the challenge of being a new team after 14 weeks together. So how do we build that connection in attack - it is progressing and it is developing each quarter.

"But you also have to pay respect to the opposition we play. Carlton's last quarter (on Sunday) was built on them throwing a few different things in the mix. They put more numbers around the ball. They beat us in stoppage in that last quarter.

"As senior coach, I am teaching our group to maintain belief - and stick to the task. A lot of it is around belief and bravery when you are under the pump. As a young group, that is part of our learning."

Port Adelaide's attack has been adjusted by the loss of star recruit Gemma Houghton (ankle) and the transfer of Phillips from the midfield to becoming a defender's torment at the goalfront.

"Erin was fantastic last week," Arnell said of the 13-disposal return from the captain. "(Those watching on television) would be under-estimating and under-valuing what she brought to our group in the forward line. It is not just her decision-making with the football, it is what she is doing off the ball with her leadership. It was brilliant."

Phillips’s move from the midfield has allowed Port Adelaide's young midfielders to take on greater responsibility and opportunity - and delivered two Rising Star nominations in three games. Abbey Dowrick's season-opening nomination was followed by Hannah Ewings joining the Rising Star field at the weekend.

"Hannah comes from Whyalla, doing her apprenticeship as a chef and has been highly touted for a couple of years - and performed exceptionally well at SANFL level for North Adelaide," Arnell said. "To see her by the way she goes about it - she is quietly spoken, but on the field she lets her actions do the talking. Really strong. Smart with the footy, too. We know she will continue to get better."

The match begins at 12.40pm on Saturday at Alberton Oval.