Even though it's still only August - and the club has no indication of its divisional seeding when the USAFL National Championships come to area for the first time - one thing is for certain: Tampa Bay will have a competitive team on the ground come October.

With an emerging balance of sage footy veterans and talented new players, St. Pete has shown signs of developing an offensive attack capable of massive waves on goal-scoring, as its worked out an identity through the course of what has been a long 2016 campaign.

Standing at 7-6 (1-2 in USAFL play), St. Pete has seen year-round training, a full metro (9-a-side) schedule, and league matches with Ft. Lauderdale and Baton Rouge pay dividends in developing the side with an eye on the Nationals, October 15-16.

Looking to take advantage of the short 39-mile commute to the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, as well as experience training twice-a-week in Florida's summer heat, St. Pete will have those subtle advantages in its arsenal when heading over the Sunshine Skyway.

Those club knows those advantages won't make much difference if they prove unable to make their presence felt on the ground, however.

Through all the ups-and-downs of a long season, St. Petersburg has shown glimpses of being able to compete on the highest levels of American footy one week, then frustrating the next.

That said - with just weeks to go, it's already apparent that the club will be ready for the Showdown in October.