Besart Berisha is more motivated than usual ahead of Friday night's A-League opener.

The Melbourne Victory striker is full of fire as he heads back to his first A-League home to take on Brisbane to kick off the 2016/17 season.

The manner of Victory's finals exit earlier this year, which came courtesy of two late Roar goals in their elimination final at Lang Park, still rankles the Albanian.

"It is hard to get over," he said.

"Brisbane had no chance against us. We were the better team.

"You're so close to go to the semi-finals and you lead by 1-0 with four minutes to go and they get two goals.

"I was very emotional because we should [have won] the game."

Berisha's anguished face became the iconic image of the night, showing the pain of a defeat that ended their title defence.

The 31-year-old said he was grateful to league chiefs for scheduling a chance to vindicate that loss first thing in the new season.

"It's the best draw," he said.

"We have a great team this year and my belief its good to have the hardest games in first to get into the league straight away.

Happy in orange ... Berisha (right) kicked off his career as a prolific goal-scorer in Brisbane. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

"Then the derby straight after and then the champions Adelaide, that's great."

As he begins a third season with Victory, the tempestuous striker said coach Kevin Muscat believed he had the condition to suit his ambitions.

"I'm in the best shape I've ever been in, this is what Kevin tells me," he said.

"This is my sixth year after five years of proving I can score goals every year.

"Now people know me so I have to be quicker, stronger, better."

AAP