HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says it's no surprise to him that Port Adelaide have rebounded so strongly from their poor start to the AFL season.

Hawthorn will host the Power on Saturday in Launceston, and the two teams will bring strong form into the clash.

The Hawks are unbeaten in 2008 while Port Adelaide have won their last three games.

Clarkson on Friday continued to play down his contract extension, which was announced earlier this week in a media release.

He said the club wanted to put aside the news quickly so they could focus solely on Saturday's match.

He added his re-signing was only part of a process started four years ago to make the club a power in the AFL, stressing that the Hawks still had a long way to go.