Harlequins RL head coach Brian McDermott has warned his players they must ditch their perennial underdogs tag to become pedigree Super League performers this year.

A succession of injuries last season saw Quins, who host Wigan Warriors this Saturday in their Super League opener, blew a solid start to last season and relinquish a top-six finish.

McDermott believes the young guns blooded in 2007 must raise their game to break into the play-offs.

"We have got to move on from being that young kid everyone feels sorry for," he said. "We want to bloody someone's nose before they bloody ours.

"We must make sure other teams are coming from behind against us on a consistent basis. We have proved we can beat the top teams - now we have got to do it more."

McDermott has tipped star men Rob Purdham, Mark McLinden, Danny Orr, Henry Paul and Scott Hill to show their class once again.

But he expects more from his squad players as they prepare to face Wigan Warriors in their opening home fixture.

"Our star men can only do so much. People like Jon Grayshon, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Rikki Sheriffe and anybody else who steps in have got to play well," he added.

"It is not just about holding their own now. They have got to make their own tackles and then some."

Skipper Purdham, who suffered an injury-plagued 2007, has targeted a barnstorming season as he aims to force his way into England's squad for October's World Cup in Australia.

The 27-year-old loose forward said: "My first priority is to Harlequins and getting us where we want to be but, further down the line it's all about the World Cup and making the England squad.

"If Quins go well it will make me look better and I will be doing my best to help achieve that.

"A dream season for me would be a grand final place, a Challenge Cup final win and then to be picked for the World Cup.

"It is a big ask but you have to have ambition."