OUT-OF-CONTRACT Port Adelaide midfielder Jared Polec is yet to open negotiations with the club, but both parties are confident a new deal will be done by the middle of the season.

Polec has made a strong start to 2018, averaging a career-high 26.4 possessions a game over the first five rounds, and he remains a key member of the Power's on-ball division with his line-breaking run and pinpoint left boot.

It's understood Port and Polec deferred contract talks earlier this year to allow the wingman to focus on returning to fitness and form following a significant hamstring injury that sidelined him from the JLT Community Series.

Although serious discussions have yet to start, once they do a new contract is expected to be finalised quickly, with Polec likely to re-sign within the next five to six weeks. 

At 25, the South Australian appears to be entering the prime of his career and his form over the coming weeks will help shape his market value.

Polec has had to carefully manage his body since a navicular injury restricted him to four games in 2015. He has missed just one game through injury since, but his training program has been carefully managed so that he never trains two days in a row.

After proving his fitness for Port's round one clash against Fremantle, Polec has not missed a beat.

He is ranked third at Port this year in average possessions, equal fourth for clearances and inside 50s, and fifth for contested possessions.

The No.5 pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, he played 16 games in three seasons with Brisbane before crossing to Alberton in the 2013 trade period.

He has since played 73 games for Port and kicked 39 goals.