PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has dropped wingman Jared Polec for the second time this season.
Hinkley insisted the 23-year-old had to continue working on his overall game but denied there were singular areas that had cost him his place in the side to face Fremantle in Perth on Saturday.
The coach said Polec wasn't far off hitting his best form as he continues his return from a serious foot injury that destroyed his 2015 campaign.
The former Lion was also dropped after the round four loss to Greater Western Sydney, but returned in round six to face Richmond.
"Jared's game is overall pretty strong. He's still coming off the back of a long lay off and we're still working with him and helping him gain his best form - we have absolute confidence that he's not far away," he said.
"Everyone looks at Jared's ball use and the way he's playing and recognising his weapons … if they were at their absolute best they would certainly be enough to keep him in the side.
"But when there's bits of your game, in all parts of your game that are a little bit off, the smartest thing to do [is give him a rest in the SANFL]."
Hinkley believes the Dockers are building and will pose a genuine threat to his side on Saturday.
The Dockers have won their past two games to pick themselves up from the bottom of the ladder and climb into 16th spot.
While those wins have only come against the two sides below it - the Brisbane Lions and Essendon - Hinkley said Fremantle’s mounting pressure suggested the club was clicking.
"I rate them really high, it doesn't matter where they are on the ladder for me - I rate Ross (Lyon) as a coach and the way they play," Hinkley said.
"Their pressure is elite, always has been and it’s coming back to that level now so that makes you really worried.
"Their numbers would suggest their pressure’s right back up and when Freo play to their best over the last few years it’s been when their pressure’s elite.
"Their forwards are hunting again and they’re chasing and they’re tackling and they’re doing all the things that would bring a smile to [Lyon’s] face."
Monfries will be back for the Power
A win for the Power would keep them right in the hunt for a top eight spot ahead of its bye next week.
Port sits a win behind eighth-placed West Coast and would enter the bye in equal eighth if it beats the Dockers and the Eagles lose to Geelong.
Given the competitiveness of the 2016 premiership race, Hinkley said it was crucial to remain within striking distance of the top eight.
"We understand the difficulty of breaking into that top eight is going to be really, really hard and if we slip up at any stage it’s going to make it really difficult for us," he said.
"We’ve just got to go there with total focus on this week and nothing else."
