Kent open their rugby County Championship campaign against Hertfordshire at Canterbury on Saturday (3pm) with one clear objective in mind – to stay up.

During lead coach Chris Wilkins’ eight years in charge, Kent have twice achieved promotion to Division 1 South only to come straight back down again and Wilkins, who is also Gravesend’s head coach, admitted: “If we can stay in the first division this time that would be great because it has always proved a step too far for us.”

Kent’s task again looks a challenging one with Cornwall and Gloucestershire, two of the traditional ‘power houses’ of English county rugby, the two other teams in their group.

But Wilkins, who led Kent to a 31-23 victory over Durham in last year’s County Championship Division 2 Plate final at Twickenham, said: “If you can win your first match in such a small group then you are pushing for the final but if you lose it, you are struggling to stay up.”

Kent’s second match will also be at home, against last year’s runners-up Cornwall at Gravesend on May 16, before their final group game against Gloucestershire at Bristol the following weekend.

Wilkins added: “We are under no illusions we are going to have to be at our best to stay up but we are looking forward to the challenge and preparing well for Saturday’s game.”