RUNNING smarter, not just harder, could hold the key to Port Adelaide's premiership push in 2015, midfielder Kane Mitchell says.
Already widely regarded as the AFL's fittest team, the Power have embarked on a pre-season more gruelling than anything previously concocted by fitness guru Darren Burgess.
Port's brutal eight-day trip to Dubai in December pushed the players to their limits, with skipper Travis Boak claiming one session was "probably the hardest running I've ever done".
Now back in Adelaide, Mitchell said the players believe they are lifting their fitness to "another level" for 2015.
"You've definitely always got to continue to improve. If you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards," Mitchell said.
"We think we can take it to another level – whether it's smarter running or more running, that's what we've got to figure out.
"But I think we can definitely improve on that and improve our game as a whole."
The Power have been installed as one of the favourites for the flag after they almost overran eventual premiers Hawthorn from 23 points down at the last change in a barnstorming finish to last year's preliminary final.
Port was the AFL's fourth-quarter specialist last year, winning 18 of 25 and outscoring their opponents by a combined 221 points.
But the Power aren't resting on their laurels under Burgess, who squeezed an even greater workload into the players during their eight-day grind in Dubai.
"We fit more in in less days (than last year), if that makes sense," said Mitchell, who has played 23 games in two seasons at Port.
"It was a definite slog but like today the boys just put their heads down and their bums up.
"We've got 'Burgo', the guru, masterminding it so we trust him and he's got us going now."
Mitchell – who was elevated off the rookie list at the end of last season - said Boak has led the way through pre-season with his training standards, but he has also been impressed by two of Port's emerging youngsters.
"Our captain is always pushing the envelope. 'Boaky' is just one of our outstanding trainers and Karl Amon impressed in Dubai – he's got running ability and he's a left-footer," he said.
"And Tommy Clurey's an outstanding runner for a big man, so look out for those two I reckon this year."
