Leicester City new boy Ritchie De Laet says everyone at the club is excited about a tilt at promotion from the Championship.
The Belgian defender joined the Foxes this summer from Manchester United following a loan spell with Norwich City last term and is of the belief that the King Power Stadium outfit are capable of gaining elevation to the Premier League despite carrying the burden of being one of the more fancied sides in the second tier.
"The three clubs that came down - Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves - are big clubs, plus you've got the likes of Blackpool, Cardiff, Middlesbrough and all the other sides that are up there time and time again, including Hull and Ipswich," De Laet told Sky Sports.
"So it is going to be a tough year for everyone in the Championship and competition for not just automatic promotion, but the play-off places as well is going to be fierce.
"I don't think that the 'favourites' tag will bother the lads too much because they played with that on their shoulders last season.
"There are some very good and experienced players here that know how to play with pressure and they showed in the second half of the season how good they are.
"The club has a great stage to build on, with the stadium, squad of players, fan base and just the city in general yearning for top-flight football.
"It will be a big challenge, but it is one that everyone connected to the club is looking forward to."
