Unlike last season when Roar won the Premiers Plate, it’s been the Mariners who’ve taken the trophy this year.

And the Mariners have also taken many of the plaudits, including Graham Arnold winning PFA’s A-League Coach of the Season.

Also honoured yesterday were Mariners keeper Mathew Ryan and defenders Joshua Rose and Patrick Zwaanswijk were named in the PFA’s team of the year.

Now many believe Central Coast Mariners are the team to beat this time around after a superb season.

But Visconte feels the challenge of facing the best-ever Central Coast line-up feeds Roar’s mindset.

“When it comes down to hard situations, our team sort of looks forward to it,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

The two greatest teams over the previous two A-League seasons square off this Saturday night in the Major Semi Final first leg at Suncorp Stadium.

If the Mariners do win, it’ll mean Roar will have to do it the hard way, against Perth Glory, Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix or Melbourne Heart.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder said this attitude was ideal for Roar who face a huge task in overcoming ACL commitments and the A-League finals in the coming weeks.

“We don’t want trophies given to us, we want them earned,” Visconte said. “And there are a few teams who’ll be looking to get into that grand final.

"Whoever we face in the finals, starting with Central Coast this weekend, they’re all going to be tough games.

"But we’re relishing that challenge.”

And it's the challenge that has the players fired up.

“At this club we’ve got ambitions of not just competing but winning everything we play in," said the South Australian-born, ex-Hearts player. “The gaffer has instilled into us to get better and better.

"It’s not just games, but every training session we want to get better, and if you don’t, then you’ve got to have a look at yourself.”

Media interest in the game is building in Queensland’s capital but Visconte’s team-mate Erik Paartalu said the players were immune to the hype in Brisbane.

“If we’re reading articles, we’re taking it with a pinch of salt because sometimes it can play on your mind,” the recent Socceroo call-up told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“And in some ways we are quite lucky in Brisbane because in Sydney and Melbourne it can get quite hyped up while here you do get a little bit of media exposure but it’s not so hyped up.

“So it’s an enjoyable media experience up here.”