Mitchell Pearce predicts an NRL grand final appearance is within the Sydney Roosters' grasp - provided they can stay healthy.
Off-field issues and a raft of injuries contributed to them finishing 15th last year - even behind Parramatta who were docked 12 points - with just six wins.
Plenty of fingers were pointed at Pearce, following his Australia Day indiscretion, for his part in the Roosters' season veering badly off track.
After three successive minor premierships in 2013-15 they believe they should be back at the top end of town and shape as a different proposition to the team who limped out of the blocks with seven losses from their first eight games last season.
"Everyone wants to be in the top eight. There's no point turning up every day if we don't," Pearce said.
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"But the sky's the limit for us."
The Roosters have undergone a shake up with South Sydney's Luke Keary brought in to fill the void left by James Maloney's exit at the end of 2015.
Fullback Michael Gordon's goalkicking is set to give them a dimension they lacked last year. The ex-Parramatta sharp-shooter boasted an 78 per cent accuracy rate in 2016, placing him in the league's top seven kickers.
Pearce said the key to unlocking the Roosters' potential is as simple as staying fit and keeping key personnel on the field.
Last year the former NSW half played just 12 games while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (14 games) and Boyd Cordner (12 games) were also missing for most of the year.
Asked if they can get back to the first weekend in October, Pearce said: "That'd be nice. I might try visualising it.
"We've got a great roster. It's about keeping your team on the park."
