Mix that in with new additions to the squad, such as former Super Rugby star Will Miller, and the Shoals appear set for a sensational year on the Illawarra Rugby field.

"Our pre-season has been really positive, with us being successful at a couple of the shorter forms of the game," Shoals skipper Steven Brandon said.

"These results, and weeks of hard training, have given us plenty of confidence that we can be really competitive in 2021.

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"The majority of our group have been together a couple of years now and I truly believe we are building something special, which should lead to continued success for years to come."

All this will be put to the test from 3pm on Saturday at Rugby Park when Shoals host Camden.

"It seems we always draw Camden in the wet at home and we just need to focus on the small things to get the win," the back-to-back Shoals player of the year said.

'We need to stick to our structures we have been working on, not get frustrated early and keep it in close to retain possession.

"If we do these things we will be happy with our game and make us hard to beat."

After finishing third in 2020, behind premiers Avondale, Brandon admits finals is the club's main focus at this stage.

"We always aim to get into the finals and from there, because anything can happen," he said.

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"If we stick together as a club and never give up, we will be there with the best come finals time."

Without sounding too confident, Brandon admits this might be the club's best chance to end their 13-year premiership drought.

"I started my first grade career a few years after the Shoals won the competition in 2008, alongside a lot of guys who were part of that victorious team," he said.

"But our squad this season is definitely the strongest we've been able to put on the field the past few years.

"It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do this season."

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