KEN Hinkley's gut feel is his healthy and restocked Port Adelaide squad is good enough and in such good shape to contend for the AFL's No.1 ranking. And the Port Adelaide senior coach also has that pang in his stomach from knowing his team has to prove such yet again.

"We're optimistic we have improved enough that it will put us at the top of the ladder - that is what we set out at the start of the year to be," Hinkley said at Alberton on Friday before the main training session of the week.

"We have a really strong list. But we still have to put that in action. And the competition also has become better ... there are a lot of teams that think they are going okay."

Port Adelaide opens the marathon run to September at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon against West Coast, a team at the other extreme of expectations.

As one-sided, to Port Adelaide's favour, as the game is presented, there is still the uncertainty of how a new squad with a new set of instructions will perform first up.

"Round 1 every year there is some anxiety, some nerves and some excitement. It is just the way it is," Hinkley said. "You have to be ready ... or you get in trouble.

"Every team has, more often than not, had great preparation going into round one. Every team is very capable in this competition. We hear it everyday about how even the competition is; so you are never sure what is going to happen. 

"Last year was a different type of anxiety - everyone was wondering if our pre-season form (with losses in Perth to a West Coast and Fremantle) was accurate or not. And we came out to play really well (against eventual grand finalist Brisbane).

"We have played better (this pre-season) by the results (in beating Adelaide and Fremantle).

"Pre-season is always around transition and bringing your form from pre-season training (into matches). When you see a six-to-eight week period of training, you do get better belief than sometimes from the other side of the fence. We are in a pretty good spot."

NEW VOICE

There also is a new on-field leader - but no doubt on how Connor Rozee will handle his first outing as Port Adelaide captain succeeding the retired Tom Jonas.

"He is in a really good space," Hinkley said. "He will be excited about going out there on Sunday for the first time as the captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club wearing the famous No.1 jumper. And he is 24 ... and has a fair bit going on in his life (as he starts a family).

"It won't worry him too much. Once the footy is out there, he will play footy."

LESS PAIN

Port Adelaide starts the season with the league's least-significant injury list that this week claimed young key forward Ollie Lord for an 8-10-week stint on the sidelines with a knee injury. Half-forward Sam Powell-Pepper is unavailable for the first four games by suspension.

"We are in a pretty healthy position," Hinkley acknowledged. "Lord is the one we would love to have available. But (we're grateful) he did not do an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). That gives us optimism for the season.

"We are in a healthy position."

The resulting competition for spots is highlighted by Jeremy Finlayson, who did not play in the practice game against Fremantle, being last named in the preliminary squad which will be cut to the match 23 on Friday evening.

"There is competition for spots - it's real," Hinkley said. "Jeremy knows what he brings and how good he can be; he is a high-quality player and was an outstanding player for us last season when we went on a big run of wins. Jeremy knows what makes his game successful at AFL level."

And there is more competition to come with the impending return of young forward Mitch Georgiades from the knee injury that wiped out his 2023 season.

"We are cautious," says Hinkley of the club's approach on advancing Georgiades to AFL action. "We understand what he is coming off. So does Mitch. He is going to be hard to control when the season starts. I said to him this week, 'Sunday afternoon, when we run out, you are probably going say - I'm ready, let me go'."

OPPO WATCH

Port Adelaide starts the premiership season with external expectation of a commanding win against the 2023 wooden spooner.

"There also is an expectation from ourselves," Hinkley said. "We want to play the brand of football we have set up all summer. Whatever result that gives us, we will have earned and get the reward for that.

"There is a lot of excitement coming out of West Coast too - and there is still a group of eight-to-10 premiership players available plus (No.1 draftee) Harley Reid is coming along," Hinkley added. "We know from our club how quick exciting youth and experience together can get going, particularly at the start of a season. We are very mindful of our responsibility to perform at our best and keep West Coast any where from their best."

NEW LOOK

The season-opener will mark the Port Adelaide debuts for three of the four players claimed during the October trade period - ruckman Ivan Soldo (ex-Richmond); and defenders Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon) and Esava Ratugolea (Geelong). The fourth, ruckman Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs), remains in contention while Port Adelaide debates how to set up its ruck and forward options.

Zerk-Thatcher and Ratugolea answer pressing needs for height in defence.

"They have both had solid introductions to our footy club, joining in incredibly well," Hinkley said. "We're excited by what they bring - and the test is about to begin. 

"There is a little unknown (on how the new-look Port Adelaide defence will combine). And that is where the anxiety comes - that unknown after playing just a couple of trial games."