Based around a competitive football carnival, the cup engages young people in education, promotes healthy lifestyles choices and develops team work, leadership and life skills.

The cup is in its second year and the Port Lincoln High School is competing for the second time, but this year it's entering its first girls team.

Port Adelaide Power player Wade Thompson was in Port Lincoln on Tuesday to talk to cup players at the high school and he was speaking from experience as coach of last year's Power Cup winners, and a product of the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA), which supports the cup along with the Port Adelaide Football Club and the State Government.

Thompson said being part of the SAASTA had given him leadership skills and helped get him to where he is today as one of Port Adelaide's rising stars.

He and Ambassador for Youth Opportunity and former Power player Gavin Wanganeen checked out the students' skills with a few kicks of the football before leading a session on leadership.

Students from Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and five metropolitan schools will take part.

The students not only play in the cup, they also have to design their own guernsey and write their own team song.

The grand finals will be played as a curtain raiser to an AFL game at AAMI Stadium in August, with the finalists chosen for on-field performance as well as team spirit, school attendance, uniform designs and commitment to training.