Danny Kenny insists newly-promoted Ealing Trailfinders will be targeting a top-four finish in the Greene King IPA Championship this season – despite admitting the standard is not far off the Aviva Premiership.

Ealing won the National League last season to secure a return to English rugby’s second tier at the first time of asking – and now Kenny wants to correct the recent yo-yo tag and establish the club as a mainstay of the Championship.

The Championship is awash with Premiership quality presently, big-spending Bristol and London Welsh will provide particularly big obstacles for Ealing this season.

However, despite the stiff opposition, Kenny is already dreaming of back-to-back promotions next season as he looks to cause some bloody noses to some of the Championship’s heavy hitters.  

Back rower Kenny said: “We talked about it in pre-season and we are an ambitious squad so we are aiming for the top of the Championship.

“If not then I don’t think you should be in this competition because you have to imagine you can win. That is what we will be looking to do.

“We will be playing fearless rugby. We will respect the other teams but we will be fearless and we are really looking forward to the season.

“I don’t think it (a top four finish) is unrealistic. If you don’t believe in it then you won’t achieve it. There is a lot of belief and we have very high-quality players in the squad.

“If you believe yourself that you can do it then you can. We are all really looking forward to it.”

Last season’s Greene King IPA Championship ended in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, with Worcester Warriors beating Bristol Rugby by just one point over two legs in the play-off final.

Bristol’s side included the likes of Samoa’s David Lemi, plus former Welsh internationals Dwayne Peel and Ryan Jones, while Worcester’s fly-half was former England Saxon Ryan Lamb and their XV also included Chris Pennell, who has played for Stuart Lancaster’s England.

It is an indication of the quality now plying their trade in the Greene King IPA Championship and Ealing have a few internationals of their own heading into the campaign.

Ealing have captured Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies and Rhys Crane from London Welsh. England Students prop Sam Rodman, while last season’s National One title winners, Luke Daniels, Chris Kinloch and Sam Wardingley have all re-committed to Trailfinders latest tilt at second-tier consolidation.

Finally, centre Toby Howley-Berridge arrives from Plymouth Albion, while while hooker Rhys Lawrence joins from Bristol.

Kenny, 27, said: “I think you saw from last season’s final that the standard in the Championship is not far away from the Premiership and I think Worcester will go well in the Premiership.

“We have recruited well and we have a lot of ex-Premiership players and a lot of players who have played international rugby so we are not afraid of what is in store for us this season.

“I think it is important to have that experience because if you have people that have experienced it, then when things are not going right then they know the right things to say at the right times to boost you.

“They have been there before so they can give you words of wisdom and you can push on.”

Ealing start their season on Saturday, September 6 at Rotherham Titans and Kenny can’t wait for it to begin.

The Irishman said: “Our plan was to get into the Greene King IPA Championship. It is where you want to be because you want to play in the top level possible and we are all really looking forward to it.”

The 2015/16 Greene King IPA Championship kicks-off on September 5th. To stay up-to-date with all the latest action from across the league, follow @Champrugby on Twitter.