Albion manager Tony Mowbray has his sights on more than mere survival when the Baggies return to Premier League action after a two-year absence.

Mowbray is taking heart from how his team performed in their FA Cup semi-final with eventual winners Portsmouth in April, as he looks ahead to the testing opener with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Albion produced the most free-flowing football in the Championship to take the title. It was a stark contrast to the more direct approach of Stoke who have also joined them in the top flight with Hull.

Mowbray insisted: “We go into the league looking forward to it and we’ll enjoy it. We have good players who have shown that, when we have the ball, then we can compete with most teams.

“Why should we fear anything? When we play Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea then, yes, on those days we will find out what the Premier League is all about.

“I would suggest they are not typical days in the Premier League.

“There will be 30 games where we have just as good a chance as the opposition. Our aim this season is to be competitive.

“I don’t want to harp on about it but Portsmouth finished eighth or ninth last season. For more than an hour in the FA Cup semi-final, you wouldn’t have thought Portsmouth were better than us.”

Mowbray added: “I want the team to show their true qualities. I do hope and believe that we can compete in the league. I don’t want to say we’re aiming for 17th because that sets you off on a negative footing. You expect to lose a lot of games if you finish 17th.

“We know we will be up against some of the best players in the world. The players here are aware the bar is going to be raised in terms of everything they do.

“Everything has got to improve, whether that be their fitness level, their tactical nous, extra work on technique.

“I am sure they realise that individually we’ve all got to step up a level. If you are not ready for that challenge then maybe you shouldn’t be here.”

Mowbray is hoping the three promoted clubs can buck the trend and make an impact among the elite. Last season Birmingham and Derby made instant returns to the Championship, with only Sunderland managing to survive for a second season.

Mowbray said: “Everyone has got their own way of doing things. We just look after ourselves. I wouldn’t say we’ve got a worse or a better chance than if you are talking about the other teams who came up.

“I just hope the other teams who have come up do very well because it will be good for football if all three teams who got promoted could stay there. It will show that this gulf can maybe be breached.”

Mowbray has high hopes of his initial cluster of summer signings in Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, Porto defender Marek Cech and Heerenveen defender Gianni Zuiverloon.