Troisi conceded the last two years were difficult after stints in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ittihad and Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin after managing just 11 games.

Rojas left Victory at the end of the A-League 2012/13 season to pursue an opportunity with Stuttgart where he struggled to break into the first team with loan stints with Greuther Furth and Swiss side FC Thun.

Muscat said he sensed a real change Rojas’ attitude.

“You think he (Rojas) hasn’t played too much, he was out on loan, he actually played quite a bit of football last year. He’s matured as a person and a footballer and he’s a better footballer than what he left,” Muscat said.

“Naturally he’s a few years older, his body’s matured, a lot smarter and he’s always very tactically aware and that is very powerful if you’ve got tools to go with it technically very good as he is and he’s certainly got an eye for goal and from that perspective he’s come back a footballer.”

The mentor said the same for Troisi.

“I think we’re all aware of his (Troisi) capabilities and ability, he’s got an eye for goal, he’s matured a hell of the lot,” he said.

“The biggest difference if there was one and it’s possibly not a footballing thing, I’ve been speaking to him over the last 18 months and he’s happy again.

“He’s had a difficult time and he’s in a place now where he’s got a smile on his face and we all know more times than not when you’re happy and content in life you’re best football appears, so hopefully that’s the case and I have no doubt with James.”

Rojas is on international duty and will miss Friday night's season-opener against Roar.

Brisbane knocked Victory out in the elimination final last season prompting Leigh Broxham to joke about revenge much to the disdain of Muscat.

“Who we’re playing is irrelevant, it’s been a long time coming and it’s been a decent build up with a lot of competitive games for ourselves against some good opposition from Europe and also the FFA Cup, so I’m looking forward to it and no doubt the players are also,” he said.

 “John (Roar coach John Aloisi) has recruited well, pretty similar to ourselves, they’ve got a certain philosophy they adhere to in relation to their recruitment they’ll make some adjustments no doubt based on their players strengths they’ve brought in.

“First up we’ll go across there and like always we’ll worry about ourselves and as I said earlier if we perform to the same level that we performed in our last game there, I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll win.”           

Muscat was also relieved after having a clean bill of health in the squad and expressed his relief about the availability of captain Carl Valeri.

Valeri was sidelined with a brain inflammation in late 2015 and returned to play the final two rounds and finals of last season and the AFC Asian Champions League.

“Just having Carl back, a lot has been spoken about throughout the country with all the recruitment and all the players that have come to our competition,” he said.

“Carl is almost a new signing for us, missing so much of last season, so it’s great to have him around the place and I’d much prefer him to be out on the park where is now.”