Peter Hewat dropped a goal in the 10-9 Premiership final defeat to Leicester

London Irish full-back Peter Hewat says the team are happy to start the season in the unaccustomed position of being one of the favourites for the title.

Irish reached the Premiership final last season, narrowly losing 10-9 to Leicester Tigers.

And Hewat told BBC Berkshire that the club realise they may have now lost last season's element of surprise.

"We probably sneaked under the radar a little bit last year," he said. "But making the final put us on the map."

Hewat added that Irish now hope to use the defeat at Twickenham to spur them on to greater things.

"There was sadness for sure," he said, "but no scarring.

"All the boys who took part in that squad wanted to get back the next day and go again.

We're not a big squad. I think Toby is more about quality than quantity. Peter Hewat

"It's been a long off-season so we've put that behind us and it's in the back of our minds that we went so close and didn't do the job.

"We now want to go one step further this year and win on that day but you know there's a lot of rugby to be played before then."

This season will be Toby Booth's second in charge since taking over from Brian Smith. And Hewat feels the squad is stronger still than a year ago.

"We've recruited where we needed to - front row, second rows, back row and we needed some tens.

"The boys that have come in to those positions have really stood up and played well in the trials so I think we're a stronger squad.

"We're not a big squad. I think Toby is more about quality than quantity.

In Saturday's opener at Twickenham, Irish face a new-look Saracens, who now have their former coach Brendan Venter at the helm.

And Hewat says they are expecting it to be a tough start.

"They've recruited a couple of South Africans," he said. "Just a few.

"I've seen a little bit of footage of their trials, they've looked a well drilled and organised side. They're going to be very tough on Saturday."

Saracens v London Irish is on Saturday (5 September, 1430 BST) and is live on BBC Berkshire.

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