PORT Adelaide onballer Steve Salopek believes veteran Warren Tredrea could be in for a big year in 2009 on the back of some impressive pre-season form.

Tredrea, 30, proved a handy contributor up forward last season with 31 goals in 17 games before being booked in for shoulder surgery.

The four-time All-Australian and premiership captain impressed with six marks and three goals against the Swans last week and Salopek said the former skipper was in great shape.

“It’s been well pressed about Tredders’ knee injury and [how much it limited him] but to see him in full flight was just a great thing,” Salopek said on Wednesday.

“Especially last week when he was out on the lead, bending down and doing his thing. It’s great for us to have that focal point down there as well as Justin Westhoff, who just keeps developing, and we all know Motts (Daniel Motlop) ... does what he wants and pulls it off because he’s that freaky type of player.”

Rejuvenated ruckman Brendon Lade is another player Salopek has pencilled in for an improved performance this season.

Lade, 32, played a handful of games with SANFL club South Adelaide last year after experiencing a dip in his All-Australian form of the previous two years.

But the respected big man has dominated the Power’s first two hit-outs of 2009 and Salopek was confident Lade could recapture his influential best form.

“The oldest guy on our list, Brendon Lade, is another one who has been impressive, if not the most impressive [senior player] this pre-season,” Salopek said.

“He’s just the type of guy everyone likes to be around and he always has input for the group. His work in the gym has been terrific and he probably hasn’t lifted this many weights for six or seven years.

“He’s in wonderful shape and hopefully we can get a fair bit out of him as well.”

Lade and his teammates will need to be at their best to topple Geelong in the NAB Cup quarter-final at AAMI Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Cats looked like they meant business with a polished display against Adelaide last week and Salopek said his side would need to take risks if they were to avoid relegation to the NAB Challenge.

“We know the areas where we think we can get at Geelong ... A few of the players went down and had a look at the Cats’ game (against Adelaide) as well,” he said.

“Geelong is a tough team and we know how good they are having been in the grand final the past two years.

“It’s only a NAB Cup game, but I would’ve thought the heat would be on quite early. We enjoy playing Geelong and they’re the benchmark, along with Hawthorn. It’s a good gauge for us to get a feel for where we’re at, see what they’re doing and try to beat them.”

Dream Team watch - Warren Tredrea is rated a $310,900 forward in the Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.