Ipswich Town midfielder Lee Evans says he and his fellow Blues have a point to prove in the Championship this season - and that means they'll attack every game.
Town return to the second tier for the first time in five seasons later this week, starting with a mouth-watering live TV clash at Sunderland on Sunday (5pm).
And, while Kieran McKenna's men set records with an eye-popping season in League One last term, the squad is relatively light on Championship experience as they step up to the next level.
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It's Evans and his fellow midfielders who boast the most second-tier time, with more than 500 Championship starts shared between him, skipper Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, Dominic Ball and new signing Jack Taylor.
Even with that behind them, Evans - who made 98 starts in the Championship at Wolves, Sheffield United and Wigan - says he and the team can't wait to kick off at Sunderland and show they can compete at the higher level.
"It is really exciting – a big game, live on Sky for the first one," he said of the Sunderland clash.
"I think there’s a few of us in the squad – myself included – who have probably got something to prove now at this Championship level.
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"I’ve played there before, but I’ve got things to prove. I’m just really excited for it and to show what I can do."
Part of the personal challenge for Evans will be a battle for playing time, given the stacked nature of Town's engine room and the fact he's had his last two seasons ended in February by knee injuries.
"I feel like I’ve done really well in pre-season to get through all the minutes I’ve been asked to," the Welshman stressed, having helped lead the Blues to the Innsbruck Cup in Austria last week.
"I think my performances have been getting better and better each week.
"I obviously had a long time out injured so I’ve just been building for it and trying to get myself in the best condition for the first week of the season.
"Yeah, there’s competition (to play) but I back myself to get in the team. And when I do, I back myself to play well."
Evans continued: "The squad is in a good place. The trips in pre-season do help with the team-bonding.
"I feel like we’ve got a really close group, and it’s a really good group as well – there are no bad eggs or anything like that.
"We’ve got a top group that young pros like Omari (Hutchinson) are coming into and can learn from.
“I’m sure there will be a couple more on the way between now and the end of the window, which is more competition and keeps everyone fighting for their place.”
After their success last season, plus the financial backing of the club's ambitious American owners, many pundits are backing Town to contend for promotion again this campaign.
Several of Evans' team-mates have spoken in recent weeks of not wanting to just survive in the Championship - and those are sentiments he echoes.
"We’ve not spoken about any specific goals," he revealed, when asked if Town have set a team target for 2023/24.
"We’ll just go into every game looking to attack it.
“I saw Wes’ interview the other day about not being happy just to be in the Championship, that we want to do well.
“We haven’t set a target, we’ll just take every game as it comes and just try to win every game.
“That’s going to be our mindset every game.
“The step-up is big and it’s going to be more challenging than last year, but we’ve got some good experience in the Championship in the squad, so we can show the other boys as well.
“So it is a step-up, but it’s a step-up I think we’ll be capable of dealing with and doing well.”
Evans stressed, however, that the team will need the backing of their fans even more next season, as they face up to stiffer tests at the next level.
"The fans have been amazing, they travel everywhere," he enthused. "I was amazed how many they were the other night at Preston, for a pre-season game, hundreds of miles away, it was incredible.
"I knew they’d be here (in Austria). They travel up and down the country and we’re going to need them again this year because there will be times when we’re penned in and on the back foot – and the support helps us, gives us that extra bit of energy.
"We’ll need that this season.”
Of course, two games that the Blue Army will be particularly up for are the return of the East Anglian derby clashes.
Town will bid to end 14 years without a win against old rivals Norwich City when they host the Canaries on December 16, ahead of the return fixture at Carrow Road on April 6.
And Evans said it's not just Town fans who are excited about the renewal of derby day hostilities.
"It’s an exciting one," he stressed. "I’ve seen enough of them on the TV!
"It’s going to be a fantastic day and one I’ll be itching to play in, thrive in and do well in.
"We’re going to be excited by it, it will be a massive occasion and we haven’t had one for a few years, so we’re looking forward to it."
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