HAMPSHIRE ace Anthony Allen is backing Leicester Tigers to challenge for a record 11th Aviva Premiership title this season – but the England centre has warned a fast-start to the new season is essential.

The Tigers have been handed a challenging first three Aviva Premiership fixtures, with Dean Ryan’s Worcester heading to Welford Road first up before a trip to Bath, while third up Dean Richards and Newcastle head to the Midlands.

Leicester are firmly back in training for the new season but with a glut of Tigers having been on Lions duty – Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole, Manu Tuilagi, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Croft – the start to the season is going to test Richard Cockerill’s squad reserves.

The Tigers are perennial Aviva Premiership finalists and Southampton-born Allen insists Leicester have just one thing on their mind as they prepare for the new season and that’s winning yet more silverware. “Obviously the Lions players are being missed, but we are just carrying on because they will be away with England most of the year as well,” said Allen, who started his career at Tottonians RFC “The start of the season will be a big challenge.

“It is a tricky start with Worcester at home, they’ll be a good outfit this year and very disciplined. Obviously with Dean Ryan going in and with a few new signings they will be well organised. They will be an underdog team this year.

“Every season clubs start wanting to be champions, it’s always tough putting together a challenge year-on-year.

“We’ve been lucky enough and good enough to do that consistently. I don’t see why we can’t do it again but different teams will be in that top four, in and out of it, and we just have to do our best to stay there for the whole season.”