Dan Hipkiss wants his No.13 shirt back. The 28-year-old Leicester Tigers centre ended an injury-troubled 2009-10 campaign behind Matt Smith in the midfield pecking order.

He has started the new campaign in the same position, with Smith getting the nod to start pre-season games against Munster and Leinster.

Hipkiss replaced his team-mate at half-time during both games and scored a quality try in the 37-14 win over Dublin-based province Leinster.

Far from being down in the dumps at his omission from the starting line-up, the man with 13 England caps is facing up to his challenge head on.

"Matt played really well at the end of last year," said Hipkiss.

"And at the start of pre-season he has trained pretty well too.

"He had the shirt last season and he is entitled to keep hold of it. That's the way it should be.

"It doesn't stop me trying to get it back off him though. It has been a tough time (not starting) and it's a position that I have not been in for a long time.

"But, at the same time, it is quite a nice challenge."

Hipkiss has started more than 100 games for the club and has been top dog in midfield for the last four seasons.

He is desperate to stay there but knows he faces more competition than ever this season.

"Everyone has got to step up because everyone is on an even keel now," he said.

"In the centres we have Billy Twelvetrees, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Allen, Matt Smith and myself, and there is very little between us.

"That's a good situation for the club to be in because if one player drops out, someone else can slip in.

"I feel fresh and am in good shape, apart from a few niggles for this time of year, which is surprising really. It gets harder as you get older having two sessions a day with old injuries hanging over you.

"I feel good going into the games, it just takes a bit longer getting warmed up."

Tigers go into Sunday's Aviva Premiership opener against Northampton Saints chasing a third consecutive English title, and Hipkiss says the club's desire for success is as strong as ever.

"I have been lucky enough to win three Guinness Premierships, one EDF Cup (Anglo-Welsh) and been to two Heineken Cup finals since I have been here," he said.

"But that doesn't affect your desire to try to win the league again.

"We had a team meeting the other day and a screen saver popped up of us winning last season.

"When you look at pictures like that, you think that by May, we definitely want to be there again. Looking back on the past successes makes you focus even more firmly on the future."