KEN Hinkley will step away from his usual seat in the coaching box for Port Adelaide's first two NAB Challenge games and instead allow the Power's defence coach Matthew Nicks to act as senior.

Nicks, 39, has been the Power's defensive coach since 2013 and will act as senior coach for the Power's games against West Coast and Richmond over the next fortnight.

Hinkley believes giving Nicks oversight of the team will benefit both his playing group and coaching panel on the eve of the 2015 home-and-away season.

“Nicksy's work as defensive coach has been of a very high quality and we think it's good for him, the coaching group and the players that he gets the chance to put the game plan together [during the NAB Challenge]," Hinkley said.

“I think anything we can do to develop our coaches is going to help the team.”

Nicks's primary role will be to "implement and coordinate" the learnings of the 2015 pre-season against the Eagles and Tigers.

"I appreciate the opportunity Ken and the Club have given me,” Nicks says.

"This is a great chance for me to continue to develop my own coaching skills, sitting in the seat of the senior coach."

Port Adelaide plays West Coast at Norwood Oval on Sunday 8 March at 4:10pm (ACDT), Richmond in Lavington, NSW at 4:40pm (AEDT) and the Crows - with Hinkley back at the helm - at AAMI Stadium at 3:40pm (ACDT)