S.League champions Albirex Niigata (S) say there's no chance they will replicate Leicester City's struggles when the 2017 season begins later this month.
The Japanese outfit, who swept all before them by winning an unprecedented quadruple last year, will face Tampines Rovers in the season-opening Charity Shield at the National Stadium on Feb. 26.
Newly appointed skipper Shuto Inaba says he will guard against the kind of drop in performances that saw 2015-16 Premier League champions Leicester flirt with the relegation zone in 2016-17.
"We are not Leicester City," Inaba told The New Paper. "We are Albirex Niigata. No problem. It won't happen.
Former Shimizu S-Pulse and Ventforet Kofu boss Kazuaki Yoshinaga has taken over as head coach from Naoki Naruo, who returned to Japan at the end of last year.
"We have a lot of new players and they have to learn again how to win," said Yoshinaga.
"So I think there will be no problem motivating them."
The new-look squad have looked strong in preseason, winning their five friendly matches with five consecutive clean sheets.
Club chairman Daisuke Korenaga predicts a more attacking style from Albirex in 2017.
"I believe our team this year are faster and more attacking-minded," he said.
"I'm confident of our team, but I also know other clubs have strengthened, and it will not be an easy season for us."
Albirex have accumulated an impressive haul of trophies over the past two seasons, with the 2015 and 2016 League Cup and Singapore Cup doubles, to go with the 2016 S.League title.