David Healy accepts it will take a "monumental effort" for Linfield to defend their Irish Premiership title this season because of the significant investment being made throughout the league.
The Blues have won five of the last six league championships under Healy's tenure, but the Premiership landscape has started to shift over the past five years with the emergence of Larne and Glentoran as genuine contenders.
Larne currently sit top of the table following Friday night's 4-0 hammering of Cliftonville, while Glentoran sit second after seeing off Healy's side in convincing fashion at Windsor Park.
