IF YOU think Sam Powell-Pepper's fend off was a lethal weapon already, wait until the Port Adelaide midfield bull hones his craft with some of the NRL's elite.
Powell-Pepper, third in this year's NAB AFL Rising Star voting, will be among a group of Power players who will travel to Sydney next week for a four-day training camp with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The Power will send their first-and-second-year players to Redfern as part of a partnership with the Bunnies.
Powell-Pepper's strong fend off became his trademark during his sensational rookie season as the 19-year-old quickly established himself in the Power's best 22.
Other second-year players to attend the camp will include forward Todd Marshall and midfielders Joe Atley and Willem Drew.
It will also be quite the initiation for the Power's draftees – ruckman Sam Hayes, midfielders Kane Farrell, Jake Patmore and Joel Garner, and former Demon Dom Barry.
The Power's head of football development Aaron Greaves told News Corporation the club saw plenty of benefits in training with an NRL club.
"There is something in this camp for both of us – Port Adelaide and the Rabbitohs," Greaves said.
"We want it to be challenging – and leave our younger players physically and mentally stronger.
"It will be four days of intensive work.
"The young guys will quickly learn how they have to step up.
"Rather than work a program to Christmas at Alberton, these eight sessions in Sydney will get the new players up to speed – and have the second-year players step up even further."
The Power have previously held training sessions with Melbourne Storm.
But with Storm assistant coach Anthony Seibold taking on the head coaching role at South Sydney, the door has been re-opened to form an alliance with another NRL club.
The Power's entire playing squad returns to training at Alberton Oval on Monday.