Skipper Shane Heal is confident the South Dragons can break the tradition of miserable starts from new clubs and compete with the best in the National Basketball League this season.

Heal brought an end to his two-year retirement when he signed with the Dragons in April, returning to his Melbourne roots for a chance to win a second championship ring.

When he agreed to captain the side in its maiden year, Heal claimed he wouldn't have accepted the challenge if he didn't believe they could be a force right from the start.

With the team taking shape, the 35-year-old remains confident of success this season under the guidance of coach and former NBA All Star Mark Price.

"A whole lot's going to depend on how we gel as a team," Heal said.

"I think we've got the talent there, but obviously any successful team needs more than talent and it's going to Mark's job to put that together."

"He's got the history, as a player he was able to do it, so hopefully he can really help gel this team together."

Heal admitted it was a difficult task for any new team to come together and be an immediate threat, but the Dragons were working on ensuring they are a solid unit before the season begins.

"[With] most teams - it doesn't matter whether it's basketball or football or soccer or anything - it always takes a long time for new franchises to get together," he said.

"For us, it's just about communicating on court and getting to know each other's games - the positives and negatives, strengths and weaknesses - and being able to blend together to be able to do that and cover each other's shortfalls," he said.

Even before he put pen to paper earlier this year, the former Australian captain had his share of critics, but they only fuelled his desire to take on the challenge.

"I think that's the whole attraction of it," Heal said.

"Most people say that it can't be done from the team, and most people say two years out, it's going to be a little bit too hard to come back and make an impact on the team and the league."

"I guess with all those things in there, that's the little carrot waving in front of me to come back home and do it in Melbourne."

While hoping to be a success in the NBL, don't expect to see Heal slip back into a Boomers singlet any time soon, with a return to the national squad definitely not on the cards.

"I think it's time for the new young guys to come through with that," he said.

"I think I'd get divorced immediately if I said that I was going overseas to play anything."