KEN HINKLEY has the bulk of Port Adelaide's round one line-up locked down, although he says he's open to surprises when it comes to filling the remaining places.
The Power will enter season 2016 looking to venture deep in the finals – an ambition that would suggest the make-up of its best side is all but certain.
Yet late 2015 form by Sam Gray, Brendon Ah Chee and Aaron Young, combined with the arrivals of Jimmy Toumpas and Charlie Dixon have created an air of insecurity around Port's best 22.
With two remaining NAB Challenge games there is also the opportunity for other young players to present as genuine round one chances.
Hinkley said he was hopeful such players would force the hand of the selection panel ahead of the season proper.
"Not many sides don't know who their best 14 or 15 are; if they're physically fit and they've got some form going I think they identify themselves pretty easily," Hinkley said.
"It's the advancement of younger players, the re-establishing themselves as an older player, they can be fit for a change … and you're not sure where the surprise is.
"Sam Gray, Brendon Ah Chee, Karl Amon, 'Youngy' (Aaron Young) – those sort of blokes who popped up at the back end of last year, we want to see that continue and everyone's talked about some of the younger blokes already this year so that will be exciting to see if we get a surprise."
One player out of the round one equation is emerging defender Tom Clurey, who could miss up to eight weeks with a foot injury.
Clurey played last weekend against the Sydney Swans but has sustained a stress-like injury that will likely sideline him into the premiership season.
The Power will take their time to identify the exact nature of the injury and will take a "conservative" approach to his rehabilitation.
"There's some doubt for Tommy in round one - he could miss anywhere from four, to six, to eight depending on what it turns out to be," he said.
"You'd expect he'd going to miss a little period of time now, he won't miss much of the season, he played well last week but he's got a bit of a sore foot now.
"It's nothing that we don't think won't recover with a little bit of time."
Meanwhile, injured defender Nathan Krakouer has been elevated to the Power's senior list as the club's nominated rookie.
Krakouer had made tremendous progress this summer before a hamstring strain ensured he'd miss the NAB Challenge.
He's still set to be available in round one and could feature in the senior side given how impressed Port's coaching group have been with his pre-season form.
