Their mission begins today with a grand final re-match against the Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park.

It would have been easy for coach Jitka Klimkova to sit back after United went through last season undefeated. Instead she's come up with some strange concepts to put her team on track for more success.

In a pre-season camp, the players had to compete in sack races while balancing biscuits on their heads and run obstacle courses of tin cans with bananas between their legs.

They went on a 14-kilometre hike, had to guide blindfolded teammates in the dark and sit in a circle for a ''positive affirmation'' session.

They popped balloons with their bodies and had intense on-field sessions.

At first, the ideas were met with giggles. But as they prepare to take on the Roar today, the giggles have turned to a steely focus.

''Jitka definitely stepped it up a notch and brought her Czech festivities to the team,'' captain Ellie Brush said.

''One was seance-esque … a few of us were giggling to start with but it's all for a good cause.

''We sat around a mountain with the trophy at the top, went around the circle and say positive things about the players.

''I've never experienced anything like it. It sets Jitka apart and we all play for each other and Jitka.''

Klimkova is in her second season as United mentor.

Last year, she described the team's journey to the title as a ''cruise'' with ''12 islands'' representing the games.

This year, it's about climbing the mountain.

The players have already hiked together to conquer Mount Tennent, a 1400-metre peak with each 100m symbolising their games.

''This time we won the championship and everyone's expecting what's next step,'' Klimkova said.

''What is Canberra United going to do? Are they going to win again? What is their plan? I knew it would be much harder, so that is the idea of the mountain climb.''

''This time was just focused on the climbing, so these little activities before was mainly for fun, of course to compete, to co-operate, to think a little bit, this kind of thing.

''But this time, most important was the climbing, real climbing to the top of the hill, how we are going - if we have fun, if we complain, if we help each other.''

Klimkova's approach isn't limited to unconventional pre-season training schedules.

The premiership-winning coach doesn't like her players to swear.

The players have adopted Klimkova's philosophies and practices - they know they can't be late for training, even by a few minutes, and swearing is strictly outlawed.

''This swearing rule, that's what I brought, I really don't like [swearing],'' Klimkova said.

''When I heard it first at training here, I was like, oh my goodness, no, this is bad - that's what I don't like, I wouldn't enjoy it actually if someone swears, this is what I really believe in - positive way of communication, believe in yourself, believe in your teammate, trust them, and this positive environment and not like swearing.

''This is our image [and] to have the positive image, there's no swearing during the training, no swearing during the game.''

It's a rule the team has embraced and now self impose.

''They know I don't like it, they know it's good for the team, so they just respect it and, of course, if I just see someone doing push ups, I know what happened - even if I don't hear it.''

Klimkova's approach has the team on track for another title.

United boasts one of the most talented rosters in the competition and Klimkova believes the players now have the confidence to take on any challenge thrown their way.

''I was talking to the girls and they always said 'we didn't play well under the pressure, when we knew we had to win or we're not in semi-finals, we just were nervous and we didn't play well and we didn't feel good,''' Klimkova said.

''When I saw them playing, our girls, they were just amazing - I said it's not a big difference between Sydney and Brisbane and Canberra, it's just in their heads.''

And she hopes challenging them with strange pre-season sessions will prepare them for a back-to-back bid.