PORT ADELAIDE has joined the race to land a high profile star at the end of 2013.

As speculation around the future of Hawk star Lance Franklin rages, Port Adelaide Ken Hinkley told radio 3AW he was hopeful that "like any club in the AFL we would be in the market for any of those players when they become available".

While he said there had been no discussions internally about specific players, he indicated that Port Adelaide was keen on becoming a destination for quality players coming out of contract and said it was not out of the question.

"It's part of the brand that you want to grow. You want to be able to attract quality people to your football club," Hinkley said.

"There are ways to get the big star. We understand that. I have been involved with Gary Ablett going up to the Gold Coast."

Big names dominate free agents list

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas confirmed that the club would have room in the salary cap in 2014 to chase a player of the quality of Franklin and that if the football department had a plan that involved chasing one of the game's elite, they would be all ears.

"We have historically run pretty close to the limit [of the salary cap]," Thomas said. "We have actually got some space now given that we traded out quite a bit of experience last year. We'll be listening to Ken [Hinkley] if he comes forward with that suggestion."

Hinkley also expressed confidence that Port Adelaide can develop its own big stars and identified new captain Travis Boak has a player ready to got to the next level.

Boak has played 108 games and was equal best and fairest in 2011 and re-signed with the Power in 2012.

Hinkley has been most impressed with the 24-year-old.

"There is no doubt [that] Travis Boak, from what I have been able to see over the pre-season is a player who actually will grow again with the role he has been now given.

"I think there is a real opportunity for him to take his game to another level," Hinkley said.