Brisbane Roar skipper Matt Smith warned his side needs to go to another level if they are to translate their strong pre-season form into the A-League.
Brisbane Roar skipper Matt Smith warned his side needs to go to another level if they are to translate their strong pre-season form into the A-League.
The Roar have been among the most impressive performers during the lengthy pre-season campaign, producing some eye-catching football to go with a string of victories.
But after failing to meet the club's high expectations last season, Smith says it's imperative they make a fast-start this time around and insists his side will need to keep improving to get results.
"I'm happy with where we're at. Our pre-season has been good but that doesn't automatically translate into points," Smith said.
"That's our next challenge to take our pre-season form and our performances into the A-League season and try and turn them into points.
"There's no guarantees a good pre-season equals good points and a good league position but we're happy with where we're at.
"We need to keep working, keep pushing...we need to be better than last week and last month and that's something as a group we're working really hard towards.
"We weren't consistent enough last year and I've said all along in our pre-season, our performances need to be better and need to be more consistent."
The Roar still possess a number of players who were part of the club's back-to-back title success under Ange Postecoglou, meaning they will against start this campaign as one of the competition favourites.
Asked how his squad will deal with the pressure to perform, Smith said: "We have expectations on ourselves.
"We certainly like the expectation from fans and supporters but ultimately but the only pressure and expectation is what we put on ourselves.
"That's probably our key message. We expect more from each other and that's one thing we've certainly portrayed in our pre-season."
Smith said he expects last season's grand finalists Central Coast and Western Sydney Wanderers to again be near the top of the table but expects this to the most open season in some time.
"Year in, year out, no one can completely pick where teams are going to be placed," the Roar skipper said.
"Central Coast have been consistent over the last three or four years so you definitely have to pick them up there.
"Western Sydney are the league winners so you have to put them up there.
"Everybody else is either in transition with new coaches or had turnovers of players. It's very hard to pick.
"We're just focusing on ourselves because we know if we perform right then that will put us in a good position."
The Roar open their campaign with a tricky away clash against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.