The League of Ireland is set to get underway this weekend as the excitement and tension builds. Anticipation is building over which clubs will improve on last season, and which are going to crumble under the pressure.
After the club's first President's Cup win against Drogheda United on Friday, Shelbourne head coach Damien Duff was focused and clinical on the task ahead.
There was much to be proud of as Shels were well-structured across the board with new signing Mipo Odubeko having great presence up front and slipping into the team seamlessly.
While the manager of the title holders was pleased with the result, he was keen to stay level-headed.
I'm impressed with a lot of things but I'm not getting carried away. Brilliant win, great to have more silverware in this beautiful stadium, but we know, the minute the league starts there is going to be different levels.
Duff thought the win was aptly defined as a springboard, but still feels that his team need to be driven and up for the challenge in every game in order to pick up where they left off in last season's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division run.
At the same time the league isn't won in round one or the first few weeks, but it's important to start strong and give us that momentum and that belief.
As I've always said in the previous three years, wherever we start, whatever level, we'll just get better and better.
Though they were exemplary last year, Shels still took it down to the wire to beat Shamrock Rovers to the title on the last day of the season. Duff is fully aware of what it takes to win a title and the fine margins that can decide the difference between back-to-back winners and one-season wonders.
If you come off one percent, we won't win the league. If you come off a half percent, you won't win the league. We won't win anything. If you come off it at all, you'll win nothing and it's a constant theme.
Many eyes will be on Shelbourne this season, and their status as league holders will place a target on their backs.
Duff and his men will have their work cut out for them once more this season, and we will see how it all kicks off when they face Derry City this Friday.
