PORT Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes is 100 per cent better prepared for the start of pre-season training compared to this time last year, says the club’s fitness coach Cam Falloon.

Cornes, who turns 30 this week, has been dogged by injury since his second All-Australian selection two years ago.

Finger and knee injuries limited him to 13 games in 2008 while his knee continued to hamper him this year.

He had surgery on the joint twice, missed four games and struggled to revisit his team-lifting best form.

The Power re-signed the premiership player to a new two-year deal in May, even though there were concerns his body could no longer withstand the rigours of AFL football.

However, Falloon said an injury-free off-season and a permanent role in defence had Cornes on track for a big 2010.

“Chad’s actually had his best off-season for three years,” he told afl.com.au.

“He’s done a lot of work and his body is sound. He’s trimmed down a little bit and his knee is fantastic.

“Chad’s very confident in his body. He put a lot of miles into his legs over the off-season and he’s had no niggles.

“He’s in a completely different place to the last few pre-seasons.”

Daniel Motlop (shoulder), Nathan Krakouer (shins) and Josh Carr (ankle) will be the only players on light duties when the squad gathers for its summer training block on Monday.

The club’s oldest players, including Cornes, Motlop and best-and-fairest winner Warren Tredrea, were ready to resume training this week but were instead sent out on the same work experience exercise as their younger teammates.

Falloon said the long days, which involve working business hours and then training at night, had not affected the players’ fitness programs.

“We’ve pulled a few things back in terms of actual training time, but we haven’t compromised the running and the actual drills,” Falloon said.

“Some of the guys haven’t been finishing until 10.30, 11pm but it’s only one week and they’ll get through it.”

Over the last two months, Falloon has monitored the players more closely than ever before with the aim of training at a higher intensity right from the start of pre-season.

“We set fairly strict goals and guidelines in terms of their weight, conditioning and skin-folds over the off-season,” Falloon said.

“We haven’t had anyone come back and not achieve those goals. I’m not saying we’re flying, but it’s a good start.”

A raft of injury concerns in 2009 will encourage the Power to also modify their in-season schedule to put greater emphasis on match recovery.