AFL premiership on Port's agenda: Hinkley

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has boldly put an AFL premiership on his agenda, saying his belief in his players hasn't wavered despite last year's finals flop.

Hinkley's charges play their opening trial game on Friday against Gold Coast in Queensland, the Power's first competitive outing since their preliminary final disaster.

Port were trounced by 71 points by the Western Bulldogs in a home preliminary final last year.

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"You know what drives anyone who is in the game, is ultimate success," Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.

"And that is what drives me and this club.

"This club believes in winning premierships and we set out in '22 to win the premiership."

Asked if he believed the Power were far behind last year's premiers Melbourne and beaten grand finalists the Bulldogs Hinkley replied: "I have got total belief in this group."

Hinkley described his players as "optimistic and enthusiastic".

"They're ready to play and they're moving on to '22," he said.

"And we're focusing really closely on today and making sure we get today right to give ourselves the best chance to be successful in '22.

"They're a really good group of young players, this team, and they're committed.

"They have had a great pre-season."

Hinkley will be without Orazia Fantasia for the start of the premiership season as the goalsneak recovers from surgery on his right knee.

Fantasia is at least three weeks from running again as Port's premiership season opener looms on March 19 against Brisbane.

Hinkley said Fantasia, after resuming running, would then need another three or four weeks before being fit to play.

But he was more bullish about key forward Charlie Dixon recovering from his ankle surgery in