PORT Adelaide elevated rookie Kane Mitchell on Tuesday, but there's no guarantee the 23-year-old Western Australian will play round one, or even remain on the senior list until season's end.

Mitchell was drafted to the Power as a rookie last December after winning the Sandover Medal in the WAFL, and has now been elevated to replace Nick Salter who was placed on the long-term injury list in February.

The 174cm midfielder said Ken Hinkley told him of his promotion but followed it by declaring he wasn't a certain starter against Melbourne on Sunday.

"He told me I was getting elevated and said in the next breath that there's no guarantees [to play], and there's no guarantees that I'll stay on the senior list with Nick on the mend already," Mitchell said.

"I completely understand what position I'm in and I just take every training session as it comes, as an opportunity to improve, and as long as I'm on the senior list I've got a chance to play.

"Hopefully I can stay there."

Coach Hinkley said that if Mitchell worked as hard as he had over the summer an AFL debut would follow.

"It doesn’t guarantee him selection but puts him in a position to maximise the most of his opportunities. If he continues to work hard he’ll get a chance to play at AFL level," Hinkley said.

"He’s worked incredibly hard to try and improve himself and us as a club and it is a great reward for his effort."

Mitchell said he had already become a better footballer in the three months since arriving at Alberton and claimed fans hadn't yet seen his best.

He shone in the Power's opening round of the NAB Cup against St Kilda, and collected 12 first-term possessions against Melbourne in round two on the way to 26 touches.

While well renowned for his speed and endurance, Mitchell's skills have let him down in the past.

"I think that I've improved a lot just in the short time that I've been at the Power; my skills have got a lot better, my running's got a lot better and I think I've still got a lot of improvement left in me," he said.

"It's no secret that everyone has that stigma (of poor skills) attached to me, I've been working extremely hard to [improve]…I'll continue to work at it and hopefully it'll be up to scratch."

Kane Mitchell is a midfielder in NAB AFL Fantasy. Register your team at AFL Fantasy Hub

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.