Mark Harvey has backing of Brisbane boss Michael Voss to chase Port Adelaide job

BRISBANE coach Michael Voss says Mark Harvey would have his "full support" to pursue Port Adelaide's vacant coaching position.

Harvey and Voss

BRISBANE coach Michael Voss says Mark Harvey would have his "absolute full support" to pursue Port Adelaide's vacant coaching position.

Harvey, the Lions' senior assistant coach, could be scrutinising the opposition in more ways than one when Port hosts Brisbane at AAMI Stadium this afternoon.

While the former Fremantle mentor is yet to declare an interest in replacing Matthew Primus, Harvey would go with Voss' blessing if he chose to rejoin senior coaching ranks after just one year at Brisbane.

"If he certainly came to me tomorrow and said that he wanted to do that, he would have my absolute full support," Voss said before the Lions' light training session at West Lakes yesterday.

"But that's something you would have to ask him as it's certainly not something I've chatted to him about. If so be it, he's shown he's more than a capable coach. I don't think anyone would have any hesitancy there about his capability of doing it again."

Port has signalled its strong interest in landing a coach with significant experience, with Rodney Eade and Terry Wallace among those mentioned as leading contenders.

But Harvey, who logged a 39-58 win-loss record with the Dockers across more than four seasons, knows what it's like to coach in a two-team town.

And Voss can't speak highly enough about his ability to make crucial assessments with his developing list at Brisbane.

"I think Harvs has been fantastic for us," Voss said.

"He's been an important part for me, being able to come over as an assistant coach, a senior assistant for me. He's been fairly committed in making sure that we can turn our fortunes around.

"Just as a sounding board for me, he's been really important. He's been through it all, he's had the ups and downs.

"And having someone to be able to have a quick chat to about things, and talk about the team and where their progress is at, he's got that experience on board. He's proven that he's been a senior coach before so I'm not questioning that he could do it again that's for sure."

Port will welcome back out-of-contract star Travis Boak, who has overcome a corked hip, for today's match starting at 1.40pm.

Lions veterans Jonathan Brown and Simon Black trained away from the main group at West Lakes yesterday as their workloads are managed carefully toward the end of the season.