MIDFIELDER Kane Mitchell is showing no signs of complacency in his third season with Port Adelaide, vowing to work harder than ever for a spot in the starting 22.

Decision-making, basic skills and fitness are the focus of the 25-year-old’s training regime as he gears up for his first season as a senior player with the club.

After being upgraded from the rookie list this year, Mitchell hopes to become a more regular contributor in the upcoming season.

Admitting the security of senior permanency is a positive, his focus remains on the tight race for a first-pick spot in the starting team.

“Nothing really changed for me personally, I worked just as hard now as I was when I was on the rookie list,” Mitchell said.

“You’ve still got to keep training, but it gives you a bit more clarity that you can get picked on form rather than having to wait for circumstance.”

After struggling with Osteitis Pubis issues last year, Mitchell now has a third preseason under his belt and is feeling confident about his body and form.

The competition for a place in the first team is tighter than ever, but his strategy is simple: stay focused, remain confident and keep the team at the forefront of your mind.

“I think there’s definitely a set of kind of 15 elite players and then there’s kind of 15 of us competing for those extra spots so we all know that and you’ve just got to try and put your best foot forward each week,” Mitchell said.

“I’ve just got to be able to do what I can do and not try and reinvent the wheel with my kicking and just do the basics well.

“…we’re all competing for those spots, so it’s pretty cut throat at the moment, but I think it’s a good place for the club to be.

“You don’t want to be scraping the barrel for the 22 so we’re pretty comfortable with that.”

After Saturday’s 66-point NAB Cup loss to a strong Richmond side, Mitchell thinks the ’showdown’ against the Adelaide Crows this weekend will come down to solid teamwork and improvement in the midfield contest.

In a nostalgic return to AAMI Stadium Port Adelaide is expecting a tough game, but their eye remains on the win.

“The best way for you to play good football is to do it as a team, and on the weekend we didn’t manage to do that, so hopefully we can do it this weekend,” Mitchell said.

“They’re a pretty good side, they were pretty competitive against Geelong, so there’s always a little bit of a step up when it’s a week out from the season and again against the Crows it’s another step up because it’s a cross-team rivalry.

“We’re expecting to have a really tough game and hopefully we can win.”