The Symes Motors-backed Braves took just three regular players – Chris Novak, Kevin Probert and Chris Hogan – into the club’s first pre-season match, which it lost 74-109 at Bendigo Stadium.

The Braves have been back in training for a month, and the team’s lack of match practice showed against a Spectres side with seven experienced SEABL players.

Adam Tanner was a late omission for the Braves with a sore elbow, while Warren Randall missed with a hamstring injury.

Matthew Bartlett was the other experienced player unable to play, while the club is awaiting the arrival of American imports Deilvez Yearby and Daniel Horton on February 17.

Gold Coast Blaze star Tom Garlepp is scheduled to arrive two weeks into the SEABL season, once his NBL commitments are complete.

Harvey said there was one spot still available on the Braves’ roster for season 2012 and Friday night’s game was an opportunity to have a look at some of the club’s rising stars.

“It gives our guys the opportunity to see where they’re at and where they need to be to compete at this level,” Harvey said.

“We committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter, we usually only have about 13 a game.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call for some of the kids.”

Harvey said David Hogan, Daniel Hansen, Tom Kenyon and Jarrod Kerwin impressed at times during the match.

The Braves’ next hit out will be on February 25 at home against Ballarat, but until then Harvey will have the players training hard, particularly on their fitness.

After winning back-to-back conference championships, Harvey said the club would look upon anything less than national championship success as a failure this season.

“It’s a really big year for us this year, our aim is to win the championship,” Harvey said.

“Anything less and we’ve basically underachieved.”