Fortunately Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy isn't one to dwell on the past.

Even after an NRL premiership-winning year he always preferred to focus on the future, so it's no surprise Bellamy doesn't want to revisit the Storm's season from hell.

After being stripped of all 2010 competition points as well as two of their titles for salary cap cheating, Melbourne's mantra this season is Playing for Everything.

"We've closed the door on last year but we're not looking too far ahead," Bellamy said.

There are some reassuringly familiar faces - the Big Four became the terrific trio after Greg Inglis' departure to Souths, but that still leaves intact the formidable "spine" of hooker Cam Smith, halfback Cooper Cronk and fullback Billy Slater.

There are also plenty of newcomers, with Beau Champion (Souths), Maurice Blair (Penrith) and Troy Thompson (Canberra) among notable recruits.

"With so many new players, we're still not quite sure what were going to get from them until we actually see it on the playing field," said Bellamy.

"Obviously I'm hoping some of those guys do a good job for us. I'm cautiously optimistic."

While it was difficult to lose favourite sons like Inglis, Ryan Hoffman and Brett Finch, Bellamy says the injection of fresh blood has at least made it easier to move beyond the salary cap turmoil.

"Certainly, having so many new players here it's probably easier to get on with it," he said.

"They weren't here so they weren't affected."

Bellamy named fringe players like second rower Kevin Proctor, prop Jesse Bromwich, five-eighth/halfback Luke Kelly, utility Rory Kosta and starting backs Justin O'Neil and Matt Duff ie as those under pressure to play stronger roles this season.

"We're looking to those guys improving.

"They did a good job for us last year at different stages but didn't play a whole heap of first grade so this year we need those guys to really step up and be consistent first-graders."

In previous years outcast forwards like Jeff Lima, Brett White, Jeremy Smith, Ben Cross and Bryan Norrie blossomed under Bellamy's tutelage and the coach has already been impressed by newcomers Thompson, a veteran from Canberra, and former Penrith prop Adam Woolnough, who came out of retirement.

One position still to be decided is five-eighth, with Finch's departure to the UK leaving a vacancy and ex-Panther Blair and former fullback understudy Gareth Widow the front-runners.

After impressing in the trials, England international Widow is likely to get first crack.

The coach said the Storm wouldn't start the year with any targets, although they believed they were capable of making the finals.

"We've just got to make sure we stay away from distractions and keep our head down and take one week at a time." he said.

"This year it's even more important that we do that."

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