Southend director of rugby Ben Green has set the goal of a top-six spot in National League Two this season.
The Seasiders start their campaign at home to Launceston hoping to better last season's eighth-placed finish.
Green told BBC Essex: "We're looking to improve where we finished last season and probably looking to finish top six.
"We want to beat one of the top four sides, because although we beat teams around us last year, we didn't achieve a victory over one of the top four."
The game against the Cornish side, who were relegated from National League One last season, will be the first competitive game for Southend's new management structure of Green and head coach Mark Mapletoft.
Green believes the game will be a useful indicator of their chances this season.
He said: "They were a full-time club last year, they've kept that status and they've come down from National One, so it will give a really good indication of where we're at.
"I'd be very surprised if they were not around promotion at the end of the season."
The match at Warners Bridge Park kicks-off at 1500 BST
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