Leigh coach Tommy Martyn has no illusions about the task facing the club on their first season in Super League.
After a series of near misses, the Centurions finally made it to the top table with victory in the National League One Grand Final last year.
Most pundits have tipped them to make a swift return.
But Martyn, while accepting the club might not challenge Leeds and Bradford, believes Leigh can surprise a few experts.
"If you told me now that we'd finish third from bottom then I'd grab it with both hands - but we've got to set our sights a bit higher than that," Martyn told BBC Sport.
Leigh's chances of survival have not been helped by the decision to relegate two teams to make space for the arrival of French side Perpignan.
"In all honesty, our real aim this season is survival but we also want to lay foundations to really establish ourselves at this level.
"We know we're favourites to go down. If what I've been reading is anything to go by, then we might as well not bother turning up.
"We'll have plenty to say about that."
Martyn moved to his home-town club - following in the illustrious footsteps of his father and uncle - in 2003 after 10 years with St Helens.
With Grand Final and Challenge Cup winners' medals to show for his efforts, Martyn was a crucial cog in Saints' highly-successful side, and also collected the prestigious Lance Todd trophy (1997) and players' player of the season award (2000).
 Martyn won medals galore in his time with St Helens |
Nevertheless, Martyn was told midway through Super League XIII that his contract would not be renewed. That was all the encouragement Leigh needed to ask him to come in player-coach.
"I always hoped I'd end my playing days here," said Martyn.
"I have to say that coaching isn't something I'd thought about while I was still playing at Saints, but my situation forced me into a quick decision."
The 33-year-old says he is very much retired as a player, although he can reflect on a fairytale final appearance on the pitch after returning against medical advice for one last game in last October's play-off final.
"I was effectively retired anyway, and I didn't want to end my career with defeat to Halifax so it just seemed right to play," he said.
"This will be the first season in a long time that I won't be lining up as a player, but it's not been as bad as I thought.
"I've got a very hands-on role and I'm still lacing up my boots most days.
"The lads are all very bubbly and walking around with smiles on their faces.
"The players are going to have to raise their game to compete in Super League, but so will we as coaches."
Super League will be even more cut-throat than usual this season with two teams going down, but Martyn is not overly concerned.
"It does put a bit of unwanted pressure on us but at the end of the day, if we look after our results then it shouldn't be an issue," said Martyn.
"With two teams going down, you could say it's the worst season to have come up but we'd sooner be here than not.
"It's great for the fans. I know they'd rather be travelling to Leeds and Wigan than Whitehaven or Barrow."
MMIX
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