The bookies have already written them off, but the Western Force are not only daring to dream of finally snaring a finals berth - they are boldly declaring they can go all the way.
The Force have never before made the finals in a full Super Rugby competition, with their hopes last year being crushed after finishing the season with five-straight defeats.
The loss of star Wallabies winger Harry Potter and the retirement of scrumhalf Nic White are two huge blows for the Force.
But with All Blacks winger George Bridge, one-cap Wallaby Darby Lancaster and Argentinian lock Franco Molina among the inclusions to an already-stable squad, the Force are brimming with internal confidence ahead of Saturday's opener against the Brumbies in Perth.
So can the club finally break their finals duck this year?
The bookies don't think so, rating the Perth-based franchise either second or third last on the title odds, but there is a very different perception within the Force's four walls.
Force captain Jeremy Williams says their goal is to win Super Rugby.
Williams says it is obviously a benchmark that to win Super Rugby, you have to be in the finals conversation or in the picture.
When asked if title success could come as early as this year, Williams did not hesitate saying he has always thought that they can do it.
Williams says they always want to win, and thinks that is what everyone's goal is at the club.
One huge aspect playing in the Force's favour is a much better travel schedule.
Last year, they were effectively made to criss-cross for the entire season with the pattern of playing one game at home followed by one game away taking its toll.
The Force plays the Brumbies at 8.35pm Saturday.
In other games, the Crusaders meet the Highlanders at 6.05pm Friday followed by the Waratahs and Reds at 8.35pm, on Saturday the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua meet Moana Pasifika at 3.35pm, the Chiefs play the Blues at 6.05pm.
