Shujaa skipper Nelson Oyoo is targeting a top-eight finish for the upcoming 2022-2023 season starting next month in Hong Kong.
The Nakuru RFC winger believes with four teams getting relegated come next June, the side can't afford to have an inconsistent season like last year.
Shujaa finished 12th with 49 points after getting to the Main Cup quarter-final twice out of ten tournaments.
“Last year was a challenging season even though we started well in Dubai. We sort of lost our way in the new year before finally finding our footing at the end of the season with the new coach Damian and now that we have had a longer period, we are in a better place,” added Oyoo.
He added: "Our preparations this time round are much better and we are more settled. So far, we have done three weeks and we still have another three weeks before we depart for Hong Kong. So we are looking at getting to the last eight in every tournament this season.”
Shujaa face a tricky test in the opening leg in Hong Kong next month, where they face World Cup Sevens' bronze medallist Ireland, Argentina, and Canada in Pool D.
“It's a fair pool. Ireland and Argentina are two very good teams but beatable while Canada are young and improving side and therefore, we need to be at our best to get to the last eight”
Kenya will open their campaign against Ireland before facing Argentina and rounding off the preliminaries against Canada in the three-day rugby day extravaganza.
Oyoo said they started training for the new season three weeks ago and they are ticking the boxes nicely. “So far, it's been good working on our fitness and conditioning and ensuring that we are ready for the long season ahead,” added Oyoo.
Kickoff reception and the setpiece are the two areas in which Shujaa struggled last season and Oyoo said they have been working on them during pre-season.
“The kickoff has been a key area, especially in Sevens and teams will punish you if you don't get it right," he noted.
Pool A: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and Hong Kong; Pool B South Africa, France, Great Britain, and Uruguay; Pool C: Fiji, USA, Spain, and Japan; Pool D: Argentina, Ireland, Kenya and Canada.
