SEDGLEY Tigers already have one eye on next season as they re-start their National Division Two North campaign with the visit of South Leicester this weekend.

Coach Geoff Roberts says the club are building a squad capable not just of earning promotion but also holding its own in National One.

The Park Lane men have made no secret of their promotion ambitions and will start 2016 well placed in second.

"Our aim is to finish this season with a team capable of finishing in mid-table in the level above," said Roberts.

"That is our ambition for next year - to finish mid-table in National One.

"It is important to put those building blocks in place now and that is what we are working towards.

"If we can win promotion, and that is a big if as there is a lot of rugby to be played still this campaign, then we want to be able to fight our corner in the Championship, not just be in there to make up the numbers.

"Because we have been at that level pretty recently, I feel strongly that most of the players we have in the side now will be part of a successful squad the next level up.

"We might have to add one or two, but on a good day I am sure we would be able to give teams like Fylde - who are a decent side in National One - a run for their money.

"I know the leagues and how they play, and I feel we will have enough to compete, we just have to get out of this one first."

The Tigers have fallen just short of promotion in the past couple of seasons since being relegated to National Division Two North.

They recovered from an exodus of players and coaching staff in the their first campaign to finish fourth and went one better to end last season in third.

If they continue that progression and finish second this season, Tigers will have to beat the runners-up in Division Two South in a play-off to earn promotion, although Roberts is maintaining his sights on pipping Macclesfield to the title to claim automatic promotion.

"We have to keep the pressure on Macclesfield all the way to the finish," he said, despite the table-toppers opening up a 12-point gap following Sedgley's slip-up at Preston Grasshoppers last time out and their abandoned game at home to Caldy the weekend before that.

"We have got a game in hand and we still have to play them (Macclesfield) at our place so that has to be the aim.

"But we know we have to finish off the season strongly.

"To do that we will have to get through the next six weeks in good shape, and keep ourselves in touch of the leaders once the weather and the pitches improve.

"We have got to try to box clever after Christmas and keep picking up points, even when conditions do not suit our running and passing game."

Sedgley kick off the new year with two eminently winnable games, on paper at least, at home to 12th-placed South Leicester on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm) and at Tynedale, who are 13th, next weekend.

They then entertain sixth-placed Otley before finishing off January with a match at lowly Luctonians and at home to fifth-placed Sandal.

"The important thing is to start off the year strongly and build up some momentum," added Roberts.

"Good performances against South Leicester and Tynedale would set us up nicely for the visit of Otley.

"If we can get through those games with maximum points then we would be up and running again."