THE Maroochydore Roos are confident they are on the up, while the Noosa Tigers admit they have a challenge on their hands to continue their dominance.

So it begs the question, how much has the gulf between the clubs been narrowed?

We will get an insight when the two Coast rivals play their final SEQAFL Division 1 pre-season trial this Saturday at Maroochydore's Fishermans Road sport complex.

For the past three years, the Roos have struggled while they regenerate their list. They finished eighth last year but younger squad members showed improvement and the club made a number of key off-season signings.

The Tigers have been a powerhouse for the past few seasons, finishing runner-up in 2009, winning back-to-back premierships in 2010-11 and making it to the preliminary final last year.

The club has been hit, however, by the loss of captain and defensive general Adam Bovalino, midfielder Tom McKittrick and key forward Danny Brewster.

The Roos have looked strong in the pre-season, beating Palm Beach Currumbin by four goals last weekend, and incoming coach Brett Maloney is bullish about his recruits.

Former Coast juniors Michael Scholard and Nick Lancaster spent the past couple of years with NEAFL side Aspley, and former Caloundra junior and experienced fullback Michael D'Arcy attracted a lot of interest from other clubs after playing the past few seasons in Cairns.

The club's key signing, however, is Michael Roberts, a veteran of Victorian country football and solidly built midfielder.

Maloney says it is just as important the side's youngsters made strides this year.

He said he was excited by the prospects of Monte Reeves, Dan Henderson (who just missed Queensland under-18 selection last year), Cam Stevenson (also signed to the Brisbane Lions reserves), skilled midfielder Matt Lamman and Bill Mahony, who was still eligible for under-16s but would make the step up to senior football this year.

"As a group, we haven't sat down and talked about where we want to finish," Maloney said.

"What we have identified is we finished eighth last year and we have a long way to go to earn back respect in this competition.

"We finished eighth and that's not good enough.

"We want to bridge the gap between us and the better sides and build a gap between us and the lower sides.

"Where that leaves us, I don't know. However, I'd like to think it will leave us challenging for a top-five spot."