Hartlett, 18, has set himself a 10-week time-frame to pull on the Power guernsey for the first time in a game for premiership points.
The determined onballer amassed 23 possessions, six marks and a goal in West Adelaide's draw with Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday.
Hartlett said he had set his sights firmly on a first-year AFL debut.
"I want to play some good footy in the SANFL. I want to be considered one of the best players at my club, so I've got to establish myself there," Hartlett said.
"Obviously, the next level is to make my AFL debut, which I'll be hoping to do before mid-season."
Hartlett was held back in his first summer at Alberton after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction mid-last year.
But the sublimely skilled teenager recovered in time to be selected for the Power's NAB Cup opener against the Swans.
Coach Mark Williams said he expected Hartlett to make his AFL debut sooner rather than later.
"I would've thought, pre-season, that Hamish would've played round one," Williams said.
"He came to the club off a shoulder reconstruction, so we looked after him all summer and then he hurt it in the second NAB Cup game. That was disappointing, but his understanding, his smarts, his kicking, his poise and all of those things make you think, jeez this guy can play.
"Given the opportunity I'm sure he'll be up for selection prior to that time (mid-season)."
Hartlett sent a scare through the Port Adelaide camp when he came from the ground clutching his recently reconstructed left shoulder after being slammed over the boundary line in a tackle from Ryan Gamble early in the NAB Cup quarter final against Geelong.
But the 77kg lightweight revealed the injury, which was later assessed to be a minor AC joint sprain, occurred moments earlier in another bone jarring contest.
"Just before that tackle from Gamble, I got bumped by Joel Selwood and that was actually what did the damage. The tackle probably didn't help, but it was the contact with Selwood that did it," Hartlett said.
"Selwood is a pretty solid boy. It was an interesting experience and the pace that Geelong plays at is just unbelievable. It's going to take a bit of getting used to, but I'm looking forward to it."
The super-impressive Hartlett was cleared of long-term damage and was back throwing himself on top of the ball three weeks later.
In round one, he watched on as good friends and fellow 2008 NAB AFL draftees Daniel Rich and Mitch Robinson made immediate marks.
Hartlett, who spent time at the AIS with Rich, said it had been a bittersweet experience.
"It's good to see those guys doing well, but of course you want to be out there," he said.
"It just motivates you even more to want to get out there and show the rest of Australia what you've got."
