Griffin says the team’s confidence is riding high following a strong showing throughout the pre-season.

In 2006, Roar won just one Pre-Season Cup match but drew four times and lost once. They have shown a relative improvement this year, with two wins, two draws and a loss.

“We’re a lot more confident this year,” said Griffin.

“We’ve only lost the one game to Adelaide. Other than that we haven’t lost to anyone and that includes all of the pre-season games we’ve played locally and we’ve won well.

"The team’s got a habit of winning and that’s what we’ll be looking to do this season."

He added: “We should be a lot more consistent and we need to make our home games a place where we win games.

"Last year we didn’t really win any games at home.” (Roar won three times out of ten home games.)

Griffin is also aware that a strong personal season will be crucial in helping his ambitions for national U-23 selection ahead of next year’s Beijing Olympics.

The 186cm defender is keen to persuade coach Frank Farina to make him a permanent fixture in the Roar starting XI.

“At the moment I’m concentrating on the Olympic team and I want to play as many games as I can for them before the Olympics," he said. "That’s the main goal at the moment.

“I think he sees me playing more of a role this year, whether it be right-back, left-back or even in the centre.

"I’m pretty versatile and can cover for the more experienced guys when they’re injured but hopefully I’ll make one of those spots my own.”