Jason Bargwanna will be out to boost Rock Racing into the the V8 Supercar Championship top 10 at the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide this weekend.
The V8 veteran has had a tough first season with Kelly Racing and sits 21 points outside the driver's top 10.
But he said he was confident he could improve as he adapted to the team's cars.
"We didn't understand the Rock Commodore well enough in Bahrain and we paid the price," Bargwanna said.
"While I am still learning what these cars like in terms of set-up, we've had a solid start to the year so that's very encouraging."
But in spite of that learning process, the former Bathurst winner already sits equal 14th in the series points after four races and is aiming to leap into the top 10 as soon as possible.
"Coming out of the Middle East and going to a circuit that we know should give us a leg up in terms of being even more competitive in Adelaide," he said.
Bargwanna said the grueling Adelaide event was one of his favourites.
"It's a top circuit and a very tough event that I really enjoy," he said.
"I've had some pretty good success there in the past and usually it's an event that is a great way to kick the season off."
"Our aim is to come out the other side of Adelaide and be in the top 10 in the championship points and I definitely think we are capable of achieving that this weekend."
Bargwanna has enjoyed success in the past on the streets of Adelaide, with the highlight being a podium result in 2000 with third place in Sunday's race that year. Other top 10 race finishes came in 1999, 2002 and 2004.
Tony Ricciardello will make his Clipsal 500 debut this weekend, but it will not be the first start on the famous street circuit for the Western Australian driver.
The Super-Max Holden Commodore driver has raced on the Adelaide street circuit in his Sports Sedan in 2000 and in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series support event in 2003.
In the Sports Sedan event Ricciardello won two of the three races held and was second in the other.
Ricciardello said he would aim to learn as quickly as possible in practice on Friday ahead of the demanding pair of 250-kilometre races.
"I have raced in Adelaide twice, once on each circuit," Ricciardello said.
"I raced there in 2000 in the Sports Sedan on the full Grand Prix circuit at Le Mans Series event. The Grand Prix track is virtually the same – you really just miss the Turn 8 sweeper. "
"Then in 2003 I raced at the Clipsal 500 in the Fujitsu V8 Series. I qualified fourth but had some mechanical failures set me back."
"So I didn't get as many laps as I would have liked but all that experience adds up for this weekend."
"The two rounds we have already had this year will also help as it has allowed me to get used to the Super-Max Commodore and to also get 'race fit'."
"But Clipsal is another kettle of fish. Compared to the open space of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain the barriers are right up close in Adelaide. That also adds to the heat and hurts the air circulation."
"We train for hard for events like Clipsal, so the key is just keep your mind on the job for the entire race."