PREMIERSHIP midfielder Kane Cornes says that developing a quality midfield will be the key to Port Adelaide climbing back toward the top of the AFL ladder in 2013.

“What I do know is you probably can’t have enough midfielders,” said Cornes.

“The top sides have 8, 9, 10 guys that rotate through the midfield.

“A quality midfield builds a quality team so I’m assuming that will be an area that we focus on [in the off season].”

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Port Adelaide recruited two midfielders into its ranks in the 2011 trade period, with Brad Ebert returning to Alberton following a four-year AFL stint at the West Coast Eagles and ex-Collingwood player John McCarthy.

Its midfield has continued to develop but injuries have influenced the ability for a core group to develop with significant game time together.

Regular mids Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett and captain Dom Cassisi have all suffered injuries and missed multiple games during the season.

Several centremen have taken steps forward in their football development including Matthew Broadbent and Andrew Moore who, along with Ebert and Cornes, have been mainstays of Port’s engine room.

Port will appoint a new senior coach in the coming weeks but Cornes, a premiership midfielder with the Power in 2004, won’t speculate on what needs to be put in place until that appointment is made.

He said his Power teammates are simply focussed on controlling what they can in their on-field performance and will look to finish the season on a positive note against Brisbane and Richmond.

“We’ll sit down and work that out [what the playing group needs to improve] at the end of the year when the new coach is in place,” said Cornes.

“Our focus is really all we can do which is win the last two games.”

Port Adelaide hosts the Brisbane Lions at AAMI Stadium on Saturday 25 August at 1.40pm