Emerging star Alex Goode is confident the Men in Black can finally realise their potential and challenge for major honours this season.

The prodigious back was one of the shining lights in another disappointing campaign last year for Saracens but he believes they are better equipped to go the distance this time.

Goode said: "I think without doubt we are going to challenge. It would be great to be at the top of the table playing the best teams and fighting for a Heineken Cup place next year.

"I think we are really targeting the away games. Our form away from home was very poor last year. We won a lot of losing bonus points but we didn't win enough games which was very disappointing.

"I think we're just trying to become a very close unit as a team which will help us in the last 10 or 15 minutes and enable us to close games out and be more disciplined there."

The 21-year-old will play at full-back this year despite seeing his long-term future at fly-half.

Goode, who was recently sought after by champions Leicester Tigers, has been tipped for top honours and was set to play for England Saxons during the summer until an ankle injury scuppered his hopes.

The outstanding talent accepts he will have to wait for his opportunity at ten, with the experience of Glen Jackson and Derick Hougaard in front of him, but is just happy to be playing a central role at such a young age.

Goode said: "As long as you're playing as a young guy you're still happy.

"Last year was a great experience playing week-in, week-out. I loved every minute of it but obviously in the long run I still see myself, if I've got international aspirations which I have, having to play ten and I need to have the game time there at some point. But at the moment Derick is a very good fly-half and Jacko's still world class.

"There are some very good players but there's always injuries and I can cover players and kick goals.

"It was a fantastic season last year," Goode continued. "I loved it and being out there was great but you've always got to keep improving.

"I can't really look too much further forward than this season. If I'm playing well week-in, week-out and really putting in the performances then I will be very happy myself and hopefully I can make the England coaches take notice and push the door there.

"I consider myself quite an all-round full-back and I've been working on my speed and kicking and passing, analysing opportunities and strength work. There is no one particular aspect I've been focusing on. If I can keep my strengths going and improve my weaknesses hopefully I can be that all-round full-back that every club needs."

Goode learnt a lot from former director of rugby Eddie Jones and was hit hard by the Australian's premature departure. But the England prospect has warmed to replacement Brendan Venter's ability to bond the squad and encourage togetherness at Vicarage Road.

"Eddie Jones was brilliant at keeping me on my toes and saying in the second season you have to work harder and harder," he admits. "You have to put the hours in and keep developing your game.

"Eddie had a massive impact on my game as a mentor and coach and hopefully I will be able to keep working and improving and not stand still.

"I think he [Brendan] is definitely the man for the club and he'll make us very tight as a tribe. There are some phenomenal young talents coming through.

"Adam Powell's been around for a long time but he's still only 22, Andy Saull and Noah Cato, Jackson Wray is coming through. There are a lot of boys who will be pushing for places and if you mix that with the blend of a few hardened South Africans who have come in and are at the right age of their career, then you can have a world class team.

"Even before Brendan came there was a very good structure in place which Eddie left. There are some very good coaches still around.

"Brendan's bringing another edge to it. He's brought in a few players that he wants to have around. Just seeing us in training there is a real intensity and physicality to the team and that's what we demand of each other."

On Saracens' perceived lack of unity, he said: "It's difficult to say why that's the case but I definitely think that has been the case. I think Eddie was on his way to improving that and hopefully Brendan will solve that as well.

"He wants to make us a real tribe and close-knit group and if we can achieve that then I think we'll be well on our way because we've got more than enough talent in the squad."

Sarries have a mouthwatering start to the season with trips to Twickenham and Wembley to take on London Irish and Northampton Saints in their opening two fixtures.

Goode, who contemplated a career in football before opting for rugby, is particularly relishing the trip to Wembley and insists the club are determined to play on the big stage every week.

He added: "You can't ask for more than that. Nothing against Vicarage Road but you've got Twickenham first with about 50,000 people and then Wembley with hopefully trying to break the record, which would be one of the best achievements at a ground for a long time.

"It will be a great two weeks and obviously if fit and selected it would be a great honour to be involved.

"It's always very difficult to predict the first game.

"Different teams come up with different strategies to start with and I think the only thing we can look towards is that Irish were quite settled and will probably play in a similar way which got them to the [Guiness Premiership] final.

"We know what to expect from them and they've got a phenomenal threat out wide and play a very expansive game so it will be tough.

"But you want to play the best teams week-in, week-out and I know I rise to the big occasion and I love playing against the best teams."