GREATER Western Sydney is targeting Port Adelaide assistant Matthew Nicks as Leon Cameron's right-hand man for 2019. 

AFL.com.au understands the Power are aware of Nicks' intentions to explore his options, with his current contract at Alberton to expire at season's end.

Nicks, who has openly discussed his wishes to be an AFL senior coach, has been Ken Hinkley's senior assistant for the past two seasons.

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A similar role alongside Leon Cameron at the Giants would only further enhance his standing as one of the most highly-regarded assistant coaches in the competition.

The Giants' coaching panel has taken a fresh approach in recent times with senior assistant Alan McConnell taking on more responsibility, in charge of the club's AFLW team.

Outside of McConnell, the club's other four line coaches – Lenny Hayes, Mark McVeigh, Nick Walsh and Amon Buchanan – have a combined 13 years of experience as AFL assistants.

Nicks is well known in Sydney football ranks, playing 175 games for the Swans from 1996-2005 before coaching the University of NSW in 2007-2008.

After moving back to South Australia, Nicks joined the Power in 2011, spending two years as a development coach before taking charge of the defence.

After three seasons down back, he moved to look after the forwards in 2016 before being promoted to senior assistant ahead of 2017.

In 2015 he was one of nine coaches inducted into the AFL's level four coaching program, which included current senior coaches Simon Goodwin, Brendon Bolton and Stuart Dew.

When speaking to the Swans' website earlier this year ahead of the club's clash with the Power, Nicks didn't shy away from his future aspirations.

"Do I want to be a senior coach? Yes," Nicks said.

"I’m confident enough to think one day I can sit in the hot seat and have success, but I’m not in any rush, and I don’t think I need to go and coach my own team before I feel like I’m ready."

Nicks and the Power face Adelaide in the second Showdown for the season on Saturday, looking to maintain their spot in the top four.