CRAIG Starcevich says the Brisbane Lions can "hit the ground running" in Sunday's AFLW season opener against Melbourne, despite a short pre-season. 

Like the rest of the League, the Lions have had eight weeks of training, plus a practice match, to prepare for their first foray into a national competition.

But Lions coach Starcevich says that's no excuse not to perform their best straight away.

And with a quick-fire seven-game season to qualify for the Grand Final, they'll need to.

"I think we can hit the ground running, definitely," Starcevich said.

"We can get in and play some good footy from the outset.

"I've just noticed in the last couple of weeks with some of our structured training … we've seen some real gains there.

"I think we've made huge inroads where the players have come from."

The Lions will have a full complement of players to choose from after marquee signing Tayla Harris overcame a shoulder niggle earlier this week.

Starcevich said he'd been surprised how quickly the group had gelled, with five interstate players in the 27-woman squad and the Queensland contingent coming from a host of different clubs.

"If the players can bring that level of intensity and energy to games of footy, they'll at least give themselves a good chance," he said

"We think we've got a fit team.

"It's been a really hot summer in Brisbane, we've trained through some tough conditions, but we think that's helped us."

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