Sydney Roosters half-back Mitchell Pearce is comforting himself with the belief the gap between the NRL basement and top eight is narrow as the Bondi club looks to 'do a Canterbury' this year.
The wooden spooners are coming off their worst season since 1966 but Pearce believes they can bounce back with a finals appearance a year later.
The Bulldogs proved such recoveries are possible, making it to within a game of last year's grand final after running last in 2008.
"They (Canterbury) showed you it can happen," Pearce said on Tuesday.
"It's not as if it's a massive jump (from last to the top eight). Last year nothing went right - there were probably seven or games last year that we should have won but lost on the bell through stupid stuff - but this year we've got confidence that we can turn things around."
"It's been all positive so far."
"I think we're good enough to make the top eight. Everyone plays to make the semis and that's definitely our goal."
While the Roosters' attack already looks sharper thanks to the addition of former Canberra playmaker Todd Carney, it's in defence the Tricolours already appear stronger.
After leaking 681 points at an average of 28 points per game last year, new coach Brian Smith has made defence a priority over the off-season.
Some of those results were there to be seen in the impressive 28-10 Foundation Cup win over the Tigers on Sunday.
"Last year we leaked a lot of points. It was embarrassing … the whole year was pretty embarrassing," Pearce conceded.
"We've worked hard with our defence and it's coming together nicely."
"I knew we'd be able to score points but our defence was the most pleasing thing (on Sunday)."
Utility back Phil Graham, who has joined the club from Canberra, added: "We've done extra (defensive) work at the end of sessions, so that's our key focus for the first few games."
"That's what we're basing our game around. We've got to get our defence right first and go from there."
The Roosters will meet Parramatta at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday in their final pre-season hit-out.