"We go into the year without a driver that's won at least one championship (but) I feel like we've got the youngest and most exciting driver lineup that we've seen in a long time," Whincup said on Thursday.

"They don't have to live up to Shane van Gisbergen's expectations.

"It's up to them to go out there and swing freely.

"I certainly wouldn't have signed Will and we wouldn't keep committing to Broc if we didn't think they were the real deal and good enough to do the job."

Driving for Erebus Motorsport last season, Brown was a chance of snatching a maiden drivers championship crown after securing four wins and four poles.

The 25-year-old was then made to settle for fifth and a team championship after disappointing results late in the year, including a 'did not finish' at the Adelaide 500.

Meanwhile, Feeney finished third overall, with five wins and three poles in his second year at Triple Eight.

Still building a healthy rivalry in the garage, both Brown and Feeney are fresh from finishing sixth in the Bathurst 12 Hour last weekend.

Reigning series champion Brodie Kostecki - Brown's former teammate - will be absent from the season opener as his contract dispute with Erebus drags on.

Endurance driver Todd Hazelwood will deputise for Kostecki, leaving 26-year-old Kostecki at a career crossroads just months after delivering Erebus' first title.

Asked whether he had ruled out Erebus and Kostecki as competition, Whincup played a straight bat.

"I've got no opinion. That's a question for them," Whincup said.

"I'm just worrying about the performance of our own team.

"As always, the competition is going to be strong. The challenges are going to come from everywhere, probably including Erebus."

The first practice session of the year gets underway at 12:20pm (AEDT) on Friday.

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