OVERSEAS signing Ryan McLaren believes Hampshire are ready to build on their Great Escape.

The former Kent and South Africa all-rounder was something of a talisman last year.

McLaren contributed important runs and wickets after arriving in September for the last four matches - two of which Hampshire won to stay up by two points.

The 33 year-old took 7-114 and made 30 on debut as Hampshire won by seven wickets at Durham.

After a draw at Somerset and defeat at home to champions Yorkshire, the odds were stacked against Hampshire.

McLaren’s vital 52 in a 123-run ninth-wicket stand with Gareth Berg, followed by 2-22 with the ball, helped secure a remarkable win against Notts at Trent Bridge that kept Hampshire up once Sussex were beaten by Yorkshire.

But he does not want a repeat.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the last month of last season, but it’s not ideal to be needing favours from other counties to stay up,” he said, as he prepared to start his first full season with Hampshire against Warwickshire at The Ageas Bowl today.

“We’ve learnt lessons from that, we want to start competing in the top half, if not at the top.

“Relegation should not be in anyone’s mind, we have to prepare mentally for what will be hard cricket.

“Yorkshire have achieved their success through the depth in their bowling and we have a bit of balance with Reece Topley coming in.

“Brad Wheal is in the wings and quite exciting and the control Mason Crane has shown bodes well.

“We’ll aim to get 400 as often as possible and if we achieve that we’ll put ourselves in good positions."

McLaren is available for all formats but is likely to be rested during the T20 Blast, which begins against Middlesex at Uxbridge on May 27, following the signings of Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi.

“It’s a long season,” he said.