SKILLS and strength will be Kane Mitchell’s focus as he sets his sights on a place in the senior side next year.

According to the midfielder, the club’s decision to delist him with the view to picking him up as a rookie in 2016 hasn’t affected his confidence.

Rather, he’s more determined than ever to break back into the main list.

“I know you have to work just as hard on the rookie list as you do on the main list so it doesn’t change too much for me,” Mitchell told media on Monday.

“Even if I was on the senior list, I’d still be pushing my way back in, as I’m not in the first 18 at this stage.

“I think I know in myself that I can do it - I did it the first two years I was here.”

And he’s clear about the areas he needs to improve on to contend for a spot: kicking accuracy and strength in the inside contest.

“Skills is always the number one thing for me…I’ve got to try and hit 70-80 per cent of my kicks,” he said.

“[I need to] get a little stronger, a bit more inside. I’ve been predominantly an outside player, playing wing and half forward, so hopefully move inside and help the big boys out.

“Because I’m not blessed with height, I’ve got to try and figure out ways that I can move bigger guys.”

The speedster took out the 3km time trial in the 1-4 year players’ return to training on Monday, again proving himself as one of the club’s elite runners.

The boys hit the track just after 9am in extreme conditions, pounding the Uni loop pavement in 30 degree weather.

Mitchell won the trial, followed by Tom Clurey, Sam Colquhoun, Karl Amon and Ollie Wines.

He said it was nice to take away the time trial, given club veteran Kane Cornes has been impossible to beat for the past several years.

“I didn’t have Kane Cornes to chase today- I was expecting him to rock up!” he said.

“Actually it was a nice relief him not being here - it was nice to run reasonably well today but there’s always room for improvement.”

Mitchell was given permission from the AFL to train with Port Adelaide in the lead up to the rookie draft.