Speaking after a video analysis of their disappointing round one loss to Perth Glory, Smith said the team was keen to get their 2012/13 campaign back on track with a win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.

Billed as the battle of the tacticians, the highly anticipated clash sees coach Ange Postecoglou return to Suncorp Stadium for the first time since leaving the back-to-back championships for the Victory hot seat.

Whatever the fans might be feeling, Smith said the players had moved on.

“We’ve refocused with Rado and bought into what he’s doing at Brisbane now,” he said.

“Ange was an important part of the club in the last couple of years but Rado’s got the reins now and we’re moving into this new chapter in the club’s history.”

Roar will still look to press, retain possession and play the technical brand of football they’ve been associated with in recent years.

But Vidosic has been credited with loosening the straitjacket and encouraging his players to develop their game awareness and decision making.

Smith, 29, was the first to admit they might have overcooked it against Glory when they fell to a last minute sucker punch from Billy Mehmet.

“People are saying we’re more direct but it’s about having different options,” he said. “If I’m honest we probably played a few too many long balls over the weekend than what we would normally do.

“The last couple of years we’d be lucky if we got one long ball all game, whereas now it’s about utilising our key players and not just from a passing perspective.

“Obviously we’ve got some great speed with Ben Halloran on one side and we have Do (Dong-Hyun) and Henrique on the left.

“Our first priority is to pass and move the ball but obviously if a pattern of play opens up there’s an opportunity to be able to penetrate over the top then we’re certainly going to take that.

“There’s a bit more freedom and we’ve been working hard on each individual’s decision-making – when we’ve got the ball and when we haven’t – and that’s something we feel we can get better at.

“If players are making better decisions in the game – then hopefully there will be better outcomes from that.”

With both teams coming off the back of a round one loss, Smith is expecting a strategic battle as each side seeks to gain the upper hand. But any talk that Vidosic may be in greater need of the win to prove himself is given short shrift by the centre-back.

“Maybe there are people out there who think he needs to prove himself but ultimately who are the people he needs to prove himself to?" he said. "The players and the club?

"Well, he’s already got the respect of all the players and he’s certainly got the respect of the club.

“Every single player at that club has pure faith in Rado and therefore he doesn’t need to prove himself to us.”

Whatever the result, Saturday night provides an intriguing insight into the past, present and possibly future of the championship club.

Smith, who already has a marketing degree and masters in sports management, has recently revealed his desire to join the coaching staff when he hangs up the boots.

But with a three-year contract and the option of another two, that's still a long-term plan.

He added:: “Obviously I need to earn my stripes first – I don’t expect to be given Rado’s job as soon as I finish playing football!”