Brisbane Roar enjoyed an incredible 2020-21 A-League Men's season with the club surprising critics to finish fourth in the league.
But like many teams this season, the Roar have lost several key players and question marks remain about whether the replacements and others can stand up.
Brisbane look to have made a significant investment into Australian youth for the upcoming campaign and will they have enough quality to be a finals contender in 2021-22?
Sporting News looks at the burning questions and talking points surrounding Brisbane Roar...
Can new Argentine striker Juan Lescano fill the goal void at Roar?
Brisbane Roar scored 36 goals in the league last season and the players that scored 27 of them are no longer at the club in 2021-22.
Top scorer Riku Danzaki (nine goals) has headed back to Japan, while Dylan Wenzel-Halls (seven) is now at Western United, while other multiple goalscorers in Macauley Gillesphey, Scott McDonald and Joey Champness have also departed.
The major worry for Roar is that the only out-and-out goalscorer they have signed is Argentinian centre-forward Juan Lescano, who comes with a good reputation but a modest record in front of goal across his career.
Fellow new signing Nikola Mileusnic believes Lescano has the attributes to one of the best strikers in the league, but it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old can settle in Brisbane and the A-League.
"Juan is a very clean and complete striker," Mileusnic told Sporting News. "He's had an injury during pre-season but he's almost back.
"He's a very strong Argentinian, he's very silky, he can build up play, he can hold the ball up and run in behind.
"He can do most things so I think he's going to be really exciting for the Roar fans and for the league as well. So once he gets firing, it'll be good for us as well."
Aside from Lescano, the Roar have added Mileusnic, who will bring speed and goals from the wing, and also talented Sydney FC attacker Luke Ivanovic and 26-year-old winger Nicholas Olsen.
Nineteen-year-old centre forward Cyrus Dehmie scored a hat-trick in pre-season, but it remains to be seen whether the Roar have enough goals in their team.
Will the Brisbane youth brigade led by Rahmat Akbari stand up?
With a focus on young Australian talent and experienced players from the state leagues, coach Warren Moon is hoping to build a squad based on substance and not individual star power.
Playmaker Rahmat Akbari is the pick of the talent coming through the ranks after excelling in a deep-lying midfield role last night.
The Afghan-born Australian cam through Roar's academy but was poached by Melbourne Victory, who recognised his talents on the ball.
But the Melbourne club didn't give much opportunity to the 21-year-old, and played him in a more attacking role in the few times that they did.
Once Akbari returned to Roar, he was deployed in a role deeper in midfield and he showed he has the potential to be a star of the A-League.
Ex-Sky Blue attacker Ivanovic is another who has moved from one of the so-called bigger clubs to get opportunity at the Roar.
Ivanovic scored three times for Sydney FC but was never going to get a look in with the likes of Kosta Barbarouses, Adam Le Fondre and Bobo ahead of him in the pecking order.
Other players Moon will be looking to step up this season include Queensland NPL signing Jez Lofthouse, Dehmie, Jesse Daley and Kai Trewin.
Moon has backed himself to develop these talents into consistent A-League players and his progress will determine the success of Roar's season.
Brisbane Roar 2021-22 quick facts
New signings: Nikola Mileusnic, Matti Steinmann, Luke Ivanovic, Juan Lescano, Jordan Holmes, Jez Lofthouse, Henry Hore, Nick Olsen, Anton Mlinarić (loan from Sydney FC), Aidan Munford
Last season: 4th
Predicted finish this season: 7th
Key player: Tom Aldred
