This time last year, the Perth Wildcats weren't even close to securing a full roster of players, let alone priming themselves for a tilt at the NBL championship.

How times have changed.

Since winning a fifth national title with a 2-1 victory in the grand final series against Wollongong last season, the Wildcats have enjoyed a period of stability, keeping most of their players and backroom staff.

Seven championship-winning players have returned for a shot at retaining the NBL title and the three new players - Cameron Tovey, Matt Knight and Jeremiah Trueman - have added youth and mobility to the line-up.

Speaking at the Wildcats' first full training session of the pre-season, two months out from their opening game, Perth coach Rob Beveridge said a stronger preparation than last season pointed to exciting times for the WA club and its fans.

"The guys are in the best physical shape I've seen them and most of them have been playing in the SBL," Beveridge said.

"Today's our first actual team practice and I know the guys are champing at the bit to get after it.

"Last year we didn't get our group together until two weeks before the season. In the pre-season we were 1-5, so it wasn't a real good start to the year.

"We're in great shape and looking forward to actually getting back on the floor as a team."

Beveridge is a renowned nurturer of talent, having taken the Australian under-20 team to the world title in 2003.

In 2009-10, Beveridge put time into developing young guns Jesse Wagstaff, who won the NBL Rookie of the Year award, and Stephen Weigh, and the coach's "get better" philosophy remains in place this season.

"This year is about trying to get better than we were last year," Beveridge said.

"We were the best team at the right time last season, but we know we've got a lot of deficiencies.

"We've lost a lot of experience with Martin Cattalini, Paul Rogers and Galen Young leaving.

"It's going to be a real challenge for us and for these younger guys here to step up as leaders.

"My expectation is that we have to compete in every single game and I think we are a better team than last year, so I think that makes it pretty exciting."

The Wildcats open their title defence on October 17, away to Adelaide, and face a tricky start to the campaign, with five of their first six matches away from home.

Beveridge tipped the likes of Gold Coast, Melbourne and last season’s battlers Cairns, who have recruited aggressively, to challenge for honours in what he expects to be another hotly contested title race.

“The other teams have made lots of changes and there’s some really good imports coming in,” Beveridge said.

“There’s no doubt the league’s going to be very competitive.”

The Wildcats will play a three-game series against a Lakeside Lightning All-Stars team next week, beginning on Tuesday at Waroona.

Games two and three will be held at Lakeside and Joondalup respectively, with all three fixtures to tip-off at 7pm.

FIXTURES: August 24, 7pm (Waroona Recreation Centre); August 26, 7pm (Lakeside Recreation Centre); August 28, 7pm (Joondalup Basketball Stadium).