Gravesend Rugby Club are keen to hit the ground running as they prepare for their second season in National League rugby.

The club found their feet quickly in National 3 London & South East last term and eventually finished sixth in the 14-team division.

Lead coach Paul Hathaway said: "We are aiming to build on last season’s finish. By rights we should really have finished fifth, but let ourselves down in a couple of games.

"The aim for this season is to get into the top four and with the experience of the last campaign under our belt I expect us to challenge for that.

"We have kept the squad together from last year but we have a few coming back from injury and a couple of new players who are moving into the area to add to it. We’re not bringing in big names, but we’re looking strong. As a club we are making strides."

Gravesend face newly promoted London Irish Amateurs on Saturday and Hathaway said: "They have been promoted along with Tonbridge Juddians and they will have a point to prove.

"We have home advantage, though, and we’ve had a good pre-season so hopefully we can get off to a good start. Everything is very positive at the moment."

Hathaway accepts that off-field financial affairs often decide league titles, but revealed: "The league will be a struggle again this year. Barnes and Hertford ran away with our division last year but there are rumours that Ampthill are spending big money on getting some National 1 players in, but you never really know until the day of the game."