PORT Adelaide players will depart tonight for Dubai ahead of an eight day training camp at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

It is the second year in a row the Power has chosen the Arab Emirate for pre-season training.

Senior coach Ken Hinkley said the club was pleased with the results from last year’s gruelling camp in the Dubai heat and expects the players to push themselves even harder this year.

“We have a good group of natural runners at the club so that’s something we want to make the most of,” Hinkley said.

“The playing group understands we are at the start of another long journey and I know the boys will push themselves to the limit every day in Dubai and take their fitness to the next level.

“The facilities we’ll be training at are among the best in the world and the consistent heat will supply the constant duress we want our players to be training under.”

Hinkley said it was also a good chance for the players to spend time together, particularly with the new draftees and rookies.

“That’s the added benefit, no doubt, that the players spend a lot of time together and get a chance to bond with the new members of the squad,” Hinkley said.

Head of high performance Darren Burgess said he has been pleased with the progress the team has made in terms of fitness but he says there’s more to do.

“Each year you just look to build and that’s what we’ll do again in Dubai,” Burgess said.

“The boys have a good base now and they’re committed to being in the best shape they can be for the 2015 season.”

The players will fly out of Adelaide tonight and start training the morning they arrive in Dubai on December 6. The team returns to Australia on December 14.