PORT Adelaide is banking on vice-captain Ollie Wines and impressive draftee Sam Powell-Pepper delivering a brutal one-two punch at ground level.
"It might be a case of the crash brothers with those two (Wines and Powell-Pepper) in there," the Power's midfield manager Michael Voss told AFL.com.au.
"They certainly know how to throw their weight around.
"Sam is on the younger end, but he has a physical, mature body that will handle the rigours of senior footy.
"Over time, we will get them playing senior footy together and hopefully they play a lot of footy together.
"I'm not sure how much of that is this year, but I'm excited with what both of them are doing."
Wines' form improved as the year went on last season.
The 22-year-old finished ninth in the League for clearances, 10th for contested possessions and was runner-up in the Power's best and fairest count.
Powell-Pepper – the 18th overall pick at the 2016 NAB AFL Draft – has showed his toughness during game simulation drills with his ability to extract the ball from stoppages.
The West Australian has benefited from his experience playing in the WAFL last year with East Perth.
"When you're a first-year player, we want to see the weapons they've got," Voss said.
"Over time, you get to work on the things that can probably get them to the next level of footy.
"In the first year, we just want to see the attributes that got them drafted in the first place and continue to grow in those areas."
Western Australia's Sam Powell-Pepper will add some grunt to the Power midfield. Picture: AFL Photos
Wines is also improving his game having embraced the additional leadership responsibility placed on his shoulders.
"It hasn't changed his approach about how he's gone about it," said Voss, a three-time premiership captain with the Brisbane Lions.
"When he gets out to train, he really goes really hard and gets the most out of himself in every session he does.
"He doesn't come off the track many times leaving too much in the tank.
"The greatest leadership attribute he has is how he attacks the game and the standards he sets with his training and demands through his presence for others to follow.
"That's all you can ever ask."
Voss said the Power would be looking to rotate more players through the midfield this season.
"(Jarman) Impey coming through there, Chad Wingard playing some more time through the midfield, that helps," he said.
"You've also got the new guys like Powell-Pepper, Joe Atley and Willem Drew, while we're looking forward to seeing what Karl Amon – who has had a really strong pre-season - can do this year.
"You're always trying to grow your footy team and you're never really satisfied until you get to the point where you're winning the ultimate prize."
