Port Adelaide captain Domenic Cassisi has tipped his side's emerging young stars Robbie Gray and Travis Boak for greatness this season.
Cassisi believes Boak and Gray, who both are entering their fourth AFL seasons, hold the key to Port improving in 2010 with the Power aiming to reach the finals for the first time since finishing runners-up in 2007 after having finished a disappointing 13th and 10th in their past two seasons.
The Power kicks off its 2010 home and away campaign with a home clash against Brad Scott's new-look North Melbourne team on Sunday.
Cassisi told Sportal that Boak and Gray had the potential to turn into elite players in the competition this season.
"Travis Boak and Robbie Gray will be better again this year and they are really important for us," Cassisi said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them makes All-Australian this year but they will definitely be in the top echelon of players in the next year or two."
Gray, who turns 22 at the end of this month, has played 35 games for Port since being drafted from Victoria at pick 55 in the 2006 national draft - while 21-year-old Boak - who also recruited from Victoria and was Port's first pick in that same draft at pick five overall - will play his 50th AFL game in the opening round.
Gray began to emerge last year as one of the best small forwards in the AFL when he kicked 30 goals for the season to finish equal second in Port's goalkicking as well as equal fourth in their best and fairest while he was also sixth overall in the AFL for goal assists.
And Boak, despite missing four games with a knee injury, finished sixth in Port's best and fairest last season and was ranked second at the club for inside 50's, third for tackles and fourth for disposals.
At the recent AFL captains' poll, Port was tipped to sneak into eighth spot this season and Cassisi believes that is a realistic aim for the Power this season.
"We want to improve on last year and last year we just missed out on the eight," Cassisi said of his team, which finished a game and half behind eighth-placed Essendon last season in 10th place.
"And if we see that improvement then we might sneak in (to the eight) and any more than that is a bonus really."
"We have had a really good pre-season (in making the semi-finals of the NAB Cup) and we are looking forward to Round 1."
Cassisi is approaching his second season as captain, after surprisingly winning the job in 2009, and admits he is far more relaxed heading into the 2010 season than last year.
"Obviously 12 months into it I am a lot more comfortable in the role and I go into this season knowing what to expect on match day and also off the field so I am really looking forward to this year and last year was a great learning curve."
Cassisi also believes Port's improvement this season will not just come from emerging stars such as Gray and Boak but also the Power's experienced recruits from rival clubs such as big men Cameron Cloke (Carlton) and Jay Schulz (Richmond).
The Port skipper said ruckmen Cloke and key forward Schulz, two players seen to have underachieved throughout their AFL career to date, were relishing their fresh starts and could make a major impact for the Power this season.
"The application they have shown to our training has been second to none," Cassisi said of the pair.
"They both understand they need to make the most of this opportunity and I think they are really grateful the club has given them another chance and they are looking forward to repaying the club."