Leeds United manager Simon Grayson is aiming high as the new npower Championship season gets ready for the big kick-off.

Having finished in seventh place last season, the United boss accepts that expectations will be high and he firmly believes Leeds are one of a number of clubs capable of making another challenge on the top-six spots.

"All clubs will start with expectations and everyone wants to do as well as possible," said the boss. "The Premier League is the place to be and that's where every club wants to be.

"There are six places that everyone is aiming for and it's tough, but we have high expectancy levels here and we have to be aiming to progress season on season.

"We have progressed season by season over the time I've been here and we'll be looking to do the same again this season.

"Everyone seems to be talking about Leicester City which is fine. They won't expect anything less than promotion there. That will be the remit and the expectation.

"They will be seen as the team to be shot at, and the pressure is very much on them from the off, but as we've all seen before, spending money like that gives you absolutely no guarantee whatsoever, as we know only too well here.

"From our point of view, we are looking to do as well as we possibly can. We are in the category of teams who think we can get promoted, and we're looking forward to the challenge again."

United kick-off at Southampton in a televised encounter on Saturday evening (5.20pm) and Grayson says his players are itching to get started.

"There's a real buzz around the place," he said. "People on the outside won't see that, but there is a buzz around the training ground and with the squad, and they're the people that matter to me.

"It's a great game for us to start with. They have the momentum from last season, there will be a good crowd and it's a game that catches the eye. We're both entertaining teams with match-winners in our squads."

Grayson could give a debut to new loan signing Darren O'Dea on Saturday. O'Dea has been allocated squad number 48.