Leinster will kick things off at home to Benetton Treviso and while a lack of silverware was a disappointing return last season, the No.8 believes the team are not far away.
"We have a talented group of players," Heaslip told The42.ie. "We have a talented group of coaches and we're in a pretty special organisation as far as clubs around the world go. Maybe it is just the fine margins that need to be tweaked.
"I don't think the skill level has dropped but maybe sometimes you need someone from the outside to jolt you back in. Last year was a tough year for everyone involved, in terms of half the squad being gone until October [for the World Cup].
"Then they disappeared again for the Six Nations. Look, that's a good thing because you want guys to go and bring that back, but it's a tough period for the coaching staff and maybe they had to focus more on the bigger stuff.
"I think everyone is listening intently to Graham. Focusing on the detail of stuff is important. Be that the basic skill, knowing our shape, your basics around tackling, even how to lift properly in a lineout.
"Focusing on the little details and instilling really good habits as you go up that ladder is pretty important. Once the heat comes on, you go back to what you know and if you've instilled those habits, that's what you'll do."
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