Leicester Tigers skipper Martin Johnson is well aware that this season's Zurich Premiership will be themost competitive ever.

"We are hopeful that we can win it again, but there are a lot of very competitive teams out there," he commented on the eve of the season kick off.

"There are a lot of young players in the league now, which maybe wasn't the case five or six years ago, and they are going to get better, working with a lot of new coaches.

"People like Wayne Shelford (Saracens), Wayne Smith (Northampton), Warren Gatland (Wasps) and Peter Thorburn (Bristol) will all be looking to boost their clubs, and I believe it is going to be competitive and exciting, with hopefully some great rugby played.

"It was a big winning margin for us last season, but there are five points for a win in the Premiership if you get a bonus point, so a win here and a loss there can make a big difference.

"Fourteen points is only a couple of games, and if you look at the rest of the league, then it was pretty close right down to the bottom two clubs.

"Bristol finished eighth and got to the final of the play-offs, while Bath were near the bottom but still reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. You have got to be consistent and competitive throughout the whole nine months.

"I am sure that someone will get off to a quick start, and maybe they'll die away, and someone will get off to a slow start and finish strong. You need to be a team winning games all the way through the year."

"Winning at home has been very important to us," Johnson added.

"If you can win all your home games, you've won half your league matches and you've got a chance of winning the league.

"We've got a very good squad of players, who are experienced and dedicated. The coaching has been good, as has support off the field, so the club's consistency and stability all add up to make it a stable environment.

"You are not going to play well every game, it's virtually impossible, but you've got to win games when your performance level is average."

Leicester, complete with new signing Franck Tournaire, travel north to Headingley on Saturday, where a Leeds side containing five new recruits awaits them.

Tigers lost the corresponding fixture last year - it was scheduled midway through England's November Test match programme - and skipper Martin Johnson believes the 2002/03 Premiership story could unfold in fascinating fashion.