Steele (left) has given Johnson (right) his target for the season

England have been set a target of a top-two finish in this year's Six Nations championship by Rugby Football Union chief executive John Steele.

He said he was keen for the team to continue their progress from last year and lay down a World Cup marker.

"Given we have three home games and some momentum from the autumn we believe finishing in the top two is realistic," he told BBC's Sportsweek.

"Third or below would be disappointing given our current position."

England finished second in manager Martin Johnson's first Six Nations campaign in 2009 but dropped to third last year - with only two wins in their five games - behind Grand Slam winners France, and Ireland.

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Since then Johnson's side have beaten Australia home and away, and lost at home to 2011 World Cup hosts New Zealand and world champions South Africa in the autumn internationals.

England will be without suspended full-back Delon Armitage for the entire tournament and key forwards Tom Croft and Courtney Lawes for most if not all of it, while captain Lewis Moody will miss at least the first two matches.

Despite those setbacks, Steele is keen to see the team continue to develop in the build-up to the World Cup, which starts in September.

"We are also looking to see the development of our young players continue and our playing style evolve further as we build to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year, where we are fully expecting to be in the mix after the group stages," he added.

"We will ensure that Martin and his coaches get everything they need to ensure they are given the best possible chance to deliver against our ambitions."

Johnson is expected to name temporary replacements for Croft, Lawes, Moody and Armitage before his squad head to Portugal on Monday for a pre-Six Nations training camp.

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