ADELAIDE skipper Nathan van Berlo says his side will enter the premiership season confident in the knowledge the Crows' best footy can deliver a finals berth.

Such confidence isn't widespread outside the club that lost stalwarts Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton to retirement and Nathan Bock to Gold Coast at the end of a season that saw it finish well outside the eight.

But while that declaration is a far cry from last year's assertion by the club's leadership that only a top-four berth would do, van Berlo says the players have learned a harsh lesson from a season derailed by injuries and a 0-6 start.

"We put ourselves out there to say that we wanted to finish top four and those high expectations still remain within the playing group," van Berlo said.

"But the same as every year, our first goal is to make the finals first … that's going to be our No.1 priority and if we're good enough to get there, which I believe the playing group is, then we'll reassess from there.

"We're really looking forward to the year ahead. Last year was a disappointment for us as a footy club, but [I'm excited by] what the playing group has been able to do over the pre-season so far.

"While those guys have left, and it's sad to see them go, there are still plenty of guys there who are more than capable of filling that void.

"We've got a lot of young guys … there who are really energised and enthusiastic about the opportunities that are there for them now."

Van Berlo accepts the years of experience lost to Adelaide through retirement and defection will provide a challenge to the current players as they look to improve on last season's 11th-placed finish.

However, he maintains the club's good late-season form of 2010, when those veterans were largely hobbled by injury, forms the basis of his optimism.

"I saw it late last year when we were able to show to everyone, and to ourselves most importantly, that our best [footy] is good enough to mix it with the best in the competition," he said of the late-season form that saw his side defeat Geelong and St Kilda.

"If we're consistent with that then there's no reason why we can't get back to where we belong playing good footy again."

The Crows' lofty hopes for the 2010 season were effectively dashed over the course of a disastrous pre-season campaign that saw their injury toll mount at an alarming rate.

In relative terms Adelaide has come through this preparation with flying colours.

"Our pre-season has been different to what it has been in the past and that's a credit to the coaching group and the medical staff," van Berlo said.

"We've got almost a full playing list to pick from at the moment so I've got no doubt that will hold us in good stead.

"Since the start of pre-season I've never seen the group have so much energy and enthusiasm. I think the way that we've gone about our training will hold us in good stead."

Nathan van Berlo is a $336,800 midfielder in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.