What Nathan Hrovat lacks in experience he makes up for with class and the 20-year-old’s fourth quarter in the Bulldogs win against Collingwood proves he is more than comfortable at AFL level.

Hrovat has been a complementary inclusion to the Bulldogs mosquito fleet, averaging a goal a game in his three appearances.

But his seven touches and three tackles in the heat of the game against Collingwood has been the biggest indicator in 2014 that the former Northern Knights captain is a ready-made footballer.

After injury prolonged his start to the season, the small forward is benefiting from getting his body right and is now setting his sights on more regular senior football. 

“It was a little bit frustrating at the start of the year but it’s been good that I’ve been able to get a little bit of continuity in my football,” Hrovat told SEN radio on Monday.

“I’ve just been trying to chip away at it week by week and work with the boys in the forward line and work with Shannon grant and Steven King and Macca.

“[I’m] just trying to slowly, slowly put together my game and gain some experience from there.”

While the prospect of facing ladder leaders Port Adelaide may seem daunting for some young players, Hrovat sees it as an opportunity to test his limits and measure the team’s progress.

“We always like to play against the best, it shows you where you need to be,” he said.

“Obviously coming off the back of the Collingwood game we know that if we play our brand of football that we can be in the game and we can be competitive.

“That is all we ask for because it gives you an opportunity to win, so hopefully we can go over there and put in the same performance.”