GREATER Western Sydney wants to tick just one box this weekend - beat the Western Bulldogs.
Left with a bad taste in their mouth after ending with a loss last season, Giants coach Cam Bernasconi says his side is laser-focused on getting their season off to the best possible start.
The Giants went winless in the first half of 2023 to finish the 10-round competition with just two victories.
Bernasconi is determined to turn that around when the Giants host a rebuilding Western Bulldogs unit under new coach Tam Hyett at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Saturday.
"Last year when we looked at the draw it was really divided. The first half was all the top-four sides, and then the second half was some opportunities," Bernasconi said on Thursday.
"That's probably a mistake we made, is we look too far ahead.
"We made it really clear this year, we are just looking at Bulldogs round one.
"Round two and three are future problems right now.
"Everything that we've been doing in the last couple of months, since the draw's come out, it's just preparing for the first bounce against the Bulldogs."
Bernasconi insists last season's tribulations are a thing of the past after a strong pre-season from a new playing list.
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The Giants welcomed eight new faces in the off-season, with Irish rookie Eilish O'Dowd and Brisbane premiership player Mikayla Pauga among their recruits.
"When you lose the last game of the year - I don't want to go back too far - but that's the last taste that lives in you for the season," Bernasconi said on Thursday.
"A lot of the players post-that had really strong off-seasons and pre-seasons. We want to make sure we sing the song more.
"And you can make the mistake of going back on previous years.
"It's a long time ago since last season, and (the Bulldogs) have obviously changed their list over, new coach, lots of high draft picks, so they're going to be a really enthusiastic side as well.
"We want to launch into round one this year and I feel like we're really ready to attack it."
