SAT ON the shores of the Mediterranean Sea this summer, star Scunthorpe RUFC winger Woody Vaimoso had just one word in mind when thinking ahead to this year's rugby season, promotion.

The flying Kiwi spent part of his summer soaking up some rays in the desert heat of Israel, looking to recuperate following a bruising season last time out.

Vaimoso was a key cog in the Greens title-winning machine, finishing as joint-top try scorer with skipper Tom Foster.

The pair shared second place overall in Midlands One East with their 19 tries apiece as well.

That promotion sees Scunthorpe step back up to National League rugby this season, starting against Kenilworth at Heslam Park on Saturday (3pm).

And Vaimoso is feeling full of confidence ahead of the big kick-off.

"Promotion is the big thing for me this year, nothing else is more important this season than promotion," the New Zealander stated.

"I want to be able to look back at the end of the season on another promotion.

"I don't want to be down in the bottom four and thinking, if only we'd won this game or that game.

"And I expect our team to do well again, it is just about making sure we get the right team to turn up every week.

"For some reason we sometimes turn up and just don't look the same team, even though it's the same group of guys.

"But I definitely think we can achieve promotion, as long as we play to our strengths."

Vaimoso has a fitness worry ahead of Saturday's big clash but he is not going to let it stop him from being involved in the game.

A knee injury is causing him some concern and with his thundering pace and rampaging runs down the wing so key to Scunthorpe's attacking threat, it will be a big worry for head coach Tim Robinson as well.

"I've busted up my knee a little bit, it's the size of a water melon at the moment," Vaimoso admitted.

"There's quite a bit of fluid on there at the moment but I will patch it up and make sure I'm out there.

"There's no way I'm missing the game.

"With the kncok-out semi-finals and then the Twickenham final at the end of last season we've had a bit of a short summer.

"So although the squad is really ready to start playing rugby again, maybe a few of the older guy's bodies are not quite.

"We've had a few losses in pre-season because it has been hard getting the team that would play week in, week out all out on the pitch together.

"There's obviously been a lot of holidays and people having to work and things, so it's been a little bit frustrating.

"But we've really kicked up the tempo in training though, so we're 100 per cent ready to go."

Vaimoso played in the National Leagues in his early years at Scunthorpe, having been recommended by prop Paul Sewell from when the pair had played together in Dublin.

He enters his sixth season at Heslam Park this campaign, looking to continue the sort of form that has made him such a fans' favourite.

But he thinks some of the club's young stars could well be set to steal some of the limelight from him this campaign as well.

"I want more tries than last year, every winger wants more tries each season," he continued.

"But if I only scored five and we got promotion, I would still be more than happy.

"I personally think this could really be the year for the likes of Mark Woollard (fly-half) and Al Fagan (prop).

"Mark seems to be really coming into form, whereas last year was a bit of a learning curve for him.

"Al Fagan as well, I see them both in the gym a lot and they both look really pumped to get on with the season.

"I think the likes of them could have a big impact for us this year."

All the pre-season talking will count for nothing come 3pm Saturday afternoon however, when Kenilworth arrive in town.

And Vaimoso is confident that his side will ensure they get their season off to the right start.

"I will be pretty disappointed if we don't win because Heslam Park was a bit of a fortress for us last year," he added.

"I haven't heard too much about Kenilworth yet but I don't think they've changed too much from when we played them a few years ago.

"They are normally pretty physical and have quite a few young players, but no-one likes making the trip up here to Scunthorpe."