Clinton McDonald has no doubts Second Effort is better than he was 12 months ago as he bids for a second P B Lawrence Stakes on Saturday.

However, the Caulfield trainer respects the class of resuming Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune and says he is the one to beat in the 1400m weight-for-age race.

McDonald declared Second Effort in "tip-top order" for his defence of the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes after the seven-year-old last-start Bletchingly Stakes winner turned in a pleasing gallop on the course proper at Caulfield on Tuesday.

The wet track specialist is also likely to get rain-affected ground on Saturday with McDonald expecting the Caulfield surface to be no better than slow.

Second Effort has won three from four on heavy tracks and six from seven in slow going.

"He's going better than what he was last year, that's for sure," McDonald declared.

"Both physically and mentally he's a lot happier horse.

"I think he's fully mature now, he's in a really happy spot and leading into this spring I'm really confident with him. I think he's chiming in at the right time, he's got no issues and it's full steam ahead.

"If we get some wet tracks he'll be a player in any race he runs in."

Second Effort continued his preparations for the Lawrence with a 1000m gallop on Tuesday morning, work described by McDonald as "really solid".

The trainer, who also won the race when it was known as the Liston Stakes in 2004 with Regal Roller, has targeted early season events with Second Effort who will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.

The Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at the end of the month is also a target.

Second Effort is one of 10 nominations for the Lawrence, headed by Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune.

Puissance De Lune won the Bendigo Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last spring and dead-heated for first in the Blamey Stakes over 1600m in his only autumn appearance.

"He's a very good horse and probably could be the horse of the spring," McDonald said of the Darren Weir-trained Puissance De Lune.

"He's the horse to beat and whatever beats him will probably win it.

"Hopefully we've got the fitness edge on him."