Parramatta coach Brian Smith has asked for patience as he sets about turning one of the NRL's recent underachievers into a premiership force.

"Obviously we want to kick-off with a bright start and a win would be great," Smith said ahead of Saturday night's premiership opener against the Wests Tigers at Telstra Stadium.

"I think no matter what we would also like to think, because we have so many new players in our club this year, that our best football is going to be somewhere further on in the season.

"I'd like to think we would be good enough to win some games early on. But more important than that is that we certainly build as the season goes on and get better and better."

Smith said strike weapon Nathan Hindmarsh, who has been troubled by a pre-season back injury, was expected to play and was likely to be used off the interchange bench.

"I'm pretty confident he's going to play," Smith said.

"He's really worked hard in the last two to three weeks. He's completed almost everything.

"We really have loaded him up in the last bit to get him there so the only reservation is he doesn't pull up sore or stress in any way physically. At this stage he's certainly looking good."

With Hindmarsh on the bench, Smith will start Saturday night's game with Chad Robinson and Nathan Cayless in the second row.

"(We'll) probably bring Nathan (Hindmarsh) into the game after 20 minutes to half an hour depending on how the game is going," Smith said.

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