New Manly coach Geoff Toovey will have one eye on last year and the other on the 2012 season when he plots the side's potentially hazardous World Club Challenge campaign in England in February.
After having little more than 24 hours to celebrate this year's grand final win before the club was ripped apart by a series of departures, headed by coach Des Hasler, Toovey wants to use the match against Leeds on February 17 as a reward for his players.
He is also aware of the drain the long journey to the north of England places on teams and is desperate to ensure the Sea Eagles head into the NRL season-opener against the Warriors in peak condition.
Manly won the 2009 WCC against Leeds but unravelled upon their return, kick-started by the club's now infamous season launch.
"We want to obviously win the game against Leeds but in saying that, with the drama that's happened, we didn't get to celebrate the grand final as long as we and the players hoped so it's a bit of a reward for them as well," Toovey explained on Thursday after the Sea Eagles wrapped up pre-Christmas training with a dragon boat regatta.
"It's recognition that they did win the competition, so we will be taking it in that vein."
"But the players are keen (and) the club is keen to make sure we put a good performance on."
"The last time we were over there we played extremely well and won the challenge so we will be looking to do the same this season."
But Toovey admitted the WCC could be a poisoned chalice if not handled correctly.
"It affects the pre-season in that it's rushed forward a little bit, it's condensed a little bit more," he explained.
"The travelling overseas does knock you around a little bit and then we're coming back and have to go back over to New Zealand."
"We did let the NRL know we weren't too happy about flying back from NZ on a Sunday when we've got a (round two) Friday night game, so it does make it hard on the players."
"That was our concern but that's the way it is and we'll deal with it."
"We're professionals, the boys are training really hard, so we think we'll be able to deal with it."
With co-captain Jason King on track to make a comeback from a pectoral injury, Toovey expects to have a full squad to choose from for the trip to England.
Winger David 'Wolfman' Williams, who was stretchered off with a neck injury in the Battle of Brookvale clash with Melbourne, is the only doubtful starter.