Parramatta fullback Bevan French says the Eels are ready to break the longest title drought in the NRL.
Not since 1986 when Ray Price, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling hoisted the premiership shield have the blue and golds celebrated on grand final day.
Of all sides still in existence, no club has gone longer without winning a premiership than the Eels.
But there's a feeling in Sydney's west that coach Brad Arthur has the club poised to snap their 32-year wait.
Halves Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman have a first pre-season together under their belts, Clint Gutherson and French are set to fight it out for the fullback spot, in a mark of their depth, while the return of Jarryd Hayne promises to give them an X factor.
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"Definitely," French said when asked if their premiership window is open.
"We're really confident; we went pretty close last year.
"Losing in the semi-finals, we know they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves.
"It wasn't up to our standards.
"Something we worked on over the pre-season is trying to be consistent and work on those little things we lacked in that game."
More than five months on and the Eels' exit to North Queensland in the second week of the finals still stings.
A week beforehand they pushed eventual premiers Melbourne all the way after leading at halftime - a performance which proved their credentials as one of the top teams in the competition.
One of the talking points from last weekend's trial win was the composure and maturity displayed by Moses and Norman.
At times last year they allowed games to slip from their grasp but Gutherson said they had come along in leaps and bounds.
"They're both very talented and the sooner they can click, they'll be the best for our footy team," Gutherson said.
"We started seeing it at the end of last year, they were starting to move a bit better and learn how to play with each other."
