PROP Kyle Amor wants Saints to set down a marker in 2017 — and believes they have the squad to do it.

The addition of two new props, with Scottish Four Nations front rowers Luke Douglas and Adam Walker, gives Saints their strongest complement of front rowers since they last won Super League in 2014.

And after experiencing some finishing touches to pre-season training with a gruelling camp in the Lake District, Amor was looking forward to first whistle.

The squad’s drill included a 45km mountain bike ride, clay pigeon shooting, a further physical challenge and then after camping overnight they hiked around Grisdale.

Cumbrian Amor enjoyed the different view of his home county.

He said: “It was straight into a long bike session up and down the hills as soon as we got there.

“There were some cracking views while you are up there - it was not like a session at Formby beach where you are seeing the same old thing.

“It was great, most of the lads bought into what we were doing straight away.

“It was the first time the internationals were back, the Australians were back over and we got away from all the distractions to bond together as a team.

“It was perfect really.

“With the five new signings coming in, plus the young kids – there was seven or eight of those who have stepped up – that means it is almost a third of our squad that needs to understand what we are about and what we want to do this year.

“We did a bit of classroom stuff too and spoke among ourselves about we feel we need to be doing to get over the line this year.

“We do our fitness tests twice, one at the start of pre-season and we just had our second lot on Tuesday and everybody’s scores are up where they need to be.

“It is a case of getting these next two weeks out of the way and let’s go again.”

Amor is already getting a good feel for the squad, believing that the experience and strike that has been brought in will help the club challenge for silverware.

There will also be an intense battle for shirts in the 17.

He said: “The recruitment has been bang on this year and I believe it is the best squad we have had since the year we won in in 2014.

“We should try to have a real dominant campaign like then and try and sit at the top for as long as we can to put a marker down that we are the side this year to challenge Wigan and Hull for their trophies

“We have got some good signings and got to watch Luke Douglas and Adam Walker first hand when I went to watch them play for Scotland against New Zealand.

“I have heard nothing but good things about them and they are going to be great for us this year.

“Having two more props brings that little bit of competition – it brings that little bit of pressure among ourselves now. You also have to throw in Tommo and Greg so that brings competition between some quite able players.

“You normally roll with four props – and six does not go into a starting 17.

"At times one or two of us are going to be disappointed but that can only be a good thing, making s are we do the right thing and get the best out of each other.

"Everyone will be on their toes, because it will be their shirt to lose."