There’s no panic in Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.

After consecutive AFL losses, he’s certain Port have the steel to prevent an early season slide.

But he also knows how a fast start can set up a season.

“The start of the season is incredibly important, it builds your season, your momentum,” he said after the Power’s 48-point loss to Sydney on Saturday night.

“You can see other clubs have already started building momentum this year. And it becomes hards to stop sometimes.”

Port remain uncertain whether lead ruckman Matthew Lobbe will recover from a thigh injury and play his first game of the season against North Melbourne this Saturday.

Lobbe’s absence has been keenly felt in losses to Fremantle and Sydney – results, Hinkley says, proves Port aren’t ready to classed with the competition heavyweights.

“Everyone wants to elevate other teams into that space when they are not quite ready,” he said.

“We are one of those teams that people talk about.

“We have got a lot of work to do, we understand that … but we’re certainly not disillusioned with where we’re at.”