Port Adelaide believe they can unlock the potential in traded duo Jay Schulz and Jay Nash that has so far lain largely dormant in their AFL careers.

Neither Richmond's Schulz nor Essendon's Nash seemed part of plans for the future at their respective clubs, meaning both were as relieved to be getting a last chance to play at the top level as they were delighted to return to their hometown.

Widespread trade week talk was that the Power were far from the destination of choice for Melbourne-based footballers - one manager going as far as saying that "no-one wants to play at Port".

But Schulz and Nash were more than happy to run out for the Alberton club, and Nash denied the Power had a negative reputation across the border.

"I don't think that's the focus of anyone in Melbourne," he said on Thursday.

"It's always a hard game when you come to play Port Adelaide, either here or down in Melbourne, so I don't think that's the thought of players at all.

"I'm rapt to come back home to Adelaide, come to a good, successful club that's been performing really well since they came in.

"Their history, they played in the grand final two years ago, they're a club that demands success and their supporters demand success, and that's something good to come to."

The Power have sought Schulz previously, viewing him as a potential answer to forward line problems that have unbalanced a once flourishing attack.

"A couple of years ago the deal was almost done but there were some things that didn't quite fall into place, so I'm really happy to be back home," Schulz said.

Nash played a near-full season for the injury-ravaged Bombers in 2008 but was relegated to the selection fringe in `09.

A player of some skill, he admits he still needs to develop his defensive awareness if he is to slot into the Power's half-back line.

"The club was happy when I had the ball in my hands, the offensive side of my game," he said.

"Being a halfback I needed to probably work on some areas on the defensive side of my game, the work I was doing when I didn't have the ball, so that was an area I needed to improve on."

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