MICKY Higham is not so foolish as to predict unachievable targets for Super League’s newest team.

So, when the experienced Leigh skipper says Centurions are aiming for a top eight finish on their return to the top flight then he isn’t kidding.

And Higham is determined his home town club won’t be a “flash in the pan” after three all conquering seasons in the Kingstone Press Championship.

The former St Helens, Wigan and Warrington hooker spoke exclusively to the Journal during a competitive squad bonding trip to the Daytona Karting Circuit, just a long kick away from Old Trafford, Super League’s annual Grand Final venue.

Higham doesn’t expect a playing return to the same area next October but he is confident fans will see a competitive Leigh side in the previous nine months.

“Is the top eight a realistic target? I think it is,” said Higham.

“We have got to set ourselves high goals.

“The higher you aim, the bigger the success and the greater the achievement will be.

“There is no reason why we can’t challenge for the eight because we are assembling a squad that won’t be a yo-yo team or a flash in the pan. We want to cement this rugby mad town in Super League.”

Higham and team mates have confirmed this current pre season is the hardest they’ve faced as recent Leigh players.

“There are no two ways about it, it is going to be a tough year,” acknowledged the former England and Great Britain forward.

“So, we are training hard and putting together a squad here that can more than just make up the numbers.

“Hopefully, we can hit the ground running which we will need to. That’s why our training has stepped up because we need to be flying come Castleford.

“The challenge for us will be backing up week in week out. Whether injuries play their part you never know, but you need that bit of luck and hopefully we can go all right.”

Higham, who at 36 will be one of Super League’s oldest players in 2017, was an obvious choice to captain Leigh in their first Super League campaign since 2005.

“When I got asked to do it last season, I couldn’t describe the feeling,” he said. “Now to go round again and do it in Super League is beyond words “But while I am officially the captain, there are a lot more captains in this team, some natural leaders who we will need throughout the year.”

When Higham runs out against Castleford on February 10 it will be his first Super League appearance since May 10, 2015 when part of a Warrington side beaten 27-26 by Hull FC.

Eyebrows were raised when he quit the Wire to drop down a division and re-join the Centurions revolution.

“I would have loved it to have ended on better terms at Warrington,” he admits. “But I still speak to a lot of people there and they are very welcoming. They understood my reasons why I left. There was a lot of stress at the time but obviously now Leigh have got into Super League it has paid off.”

A total of 39 Leigh players, coaches, staff and chairman Derek Beaumont took park in the Daytona racing day.