VETERAN Lion Nigel Lappin is excited about the 2008 season.

Not only has the 33-year-old gotten through his 15th pre-season with "only a couple of grumbles", but the status of the club's list has him eagerly anticipating the year ahead.

"We've got a really good group of younger guys coming through, and they're actually not so young anymore," Lappin told lions.com.au.

"We've got a reasonably experienced list; we've had a lot of guys play at least 30 games now, so we're coming into a stage over the next few years where the side should be pretty strong.

"You look at guys like Blacky (Simon Black), Browny (Jonathan Brown) and Luke [Power], and they're nearing their late 20s but they've still got a lot of good footy ahead of them.

"I'm the only guy over 30 at the moment, so we've got a list that's in really good shape. We've got some really exciting players coming through, and a lot of guys showed a lot of good stuff last year.

"Michael Rischitelli, Josh Drummond, Joel Patfull … guys like that who are in their early 20s, and there's around 15 guys like that, are the guys that we're looking forward to because they'll drive the team even further."

Based on the powerful way the Lions finished last season, Lappin is hoping the team is on the verge of another peak period like the one it held across the early years of this decade.

But with every team in the league talking up their own chances as the season approaches, he knows the most important thing right now is kicking off the year with winning form.

"Until you get into the season, you don't know [how the year will go]. It's really important to get a good start to the season, and we should go into the season in reasonable shape," he said.

"We've got a couple of guys like Daniel Merrett and Ash McGrath, and Rischitelli, who have some niggly injuries and won't start the season on time, and they're good players.

"You've just got to hope that we can win a good portion of our first few games, which will get us off to a good start.

"Last year, in round 10, we hadn't won too many games and we were just too far behind.

"But we definitely have a team that really should be in the eight, and then it's up to us towards the end of the year as to how well we're playing."

As the oldest player on the list, the triple premiership player is relatively pleased with the way his body has responded to another arduous pre-season.

"You have a few little issues that carry on, but nothing major," he said.

"Ever since I broke my ankle a couple of years ago, it gets a little bit stiff and it causes the joints on that side of my leg, my hip and knee, to get sore.

"But if I keep on top of that I'm really good and I've been in really good shape coming into the pre-season.

"You just hope you get through the games and get yourself ready for the season proper."

Lappin isn't willing to put a number on how many years he thinks he's got left at the highest level, but he is prepared to concede it's "not too many more".

"It's hard to say. It's not something I think about a hell of a lot at this stage," he said.

"Towards the end of the season, I'll weigh it up and see where I'm at. For me, physically, I think I'll always be ok, barring any major sort of injury.

"It's more just how I'm coping playing for say, the 15th time, or fronting up for my 15th season.

"So, towards the end of the year, I'll make my mind up whether I can go around again. A lot of that will depend on how I'm playing, and whether I can still get a kick and if I'm still contributing."