“With the new players, they've got to fit in with the structure of the team," he admitted. "There are going to be teething problems.

"But if we can get over those problems we've got a good chance to go back to back."

He added: “Our last performance against Sydney [in the pre-season cup] was a better one so I feel like we're getting close to peaking at the right time.

"Once we're over the teething, it's top of the ladder, then the finals.”

And he joked: “My little boy teethed for two or three months so based on that, the season may be well over.”

One player Thompson expects to shine later in the season is Carlos Hernandez.

The Costa Rican star arrived in Melbourne last month with big raps but his lack of fitness has kept him in the shadows so far.

“He's working super-hard to get fit, he's doing double-shifts,” said Thompson.

Victory leaves Melbourne early this Friday morning to begin the defence of its crown on Sunday in Wellington.

And Thompson, who was born in New Zealand, is taking nothing for granted.

“Phoenix are going to be very well organised, like they were when we played them in pre-season," he said.

"There's a hunger there to prove something. It's gonna be very, very difficult.

“They'll have a point to prove, to their own supporters and to everyone in New Zealand.

"There's no better way to start the season than to play the last season's champions."

He added: “This season, there is not going to be an easy game against Wellington."

Thompson believes, like Sydney last season, there won't be an easy game all season.

“It's easier winning the championship than retaining it, because there are so many teams who want to beat you," he said.

“So I think we've just got to keep doing what we're doing.”

As for Victory's Asian Champions League assault taking some of the focus away from retaining the A-League, Thompson was non-plussed.

“I haven't thought about the Asian Champions League," he admitted.

"I think I'm still trying to get over the Asian Cup to think about going back to Asia again.

"I'm pretty much over Asia right now, but it's exciting for our club, supporters and for us players just to be part of it."

He added: “I hope we get drawn against a Mongolian side. I love Mongolian lamb... I'm hoping it's as good as what I get in Melbourne.”