Andy Ellis reckons a full pre-season has given him a new lease of life as he looks to play a pivotal role for Harlequins RL this season.

Ellis is likely to be named as starting hooker for the clash with the Catalan Dragons on Saturday as the Londoners get their Super League campaign underway.

And the former Barrow man, who missed the first four months of last season with a torn pectoral muscle, has high hopes for the 2011 campaign.

Ellis said: “To compare this season to last is like chalk and cheese.

“I missed the whole pre-season last year and when I did come back I was struggling to match up to the level the other players were already at.

“For me to be able to get that pre-season under my belt and strengthen the friendships with the other players in the squad has given me a real lift.”

The 26-year-old has made the hooker position his own as Chad Randall has made the move to half-back.

And Ellis reveals getting that starting spot has done him the world of good.

He added: “I have the number 9 shirt but I do not see that as pressure, if anything it has helped my confidence.

“I have had to work hard this off-season as I realised last year that my game that worked well in the Championship was not really suitable for Super League.

“This level is a lot quicker and a lot more clever and I have had to adapt.

“But knowing you are going to have a set position is a real boost and makes you push on.

“Last year was very scrappy and there was a lot of chopping and changing which did not really help us gel as a team, but I do not think that will be the case this year.”

Following the Dragons clash, Quins can then prepare for their first home date of the season as they welcome the Crusaders to the Stoop the following Sunday.

And Ellis is well aware of the importance of these early games.

He added: “Games against the likes of the Crusaders are really the ones we have to win if we want to push on.

“You have to expect sides to be on a par with where they were last season so it is vital to get a good start.

“We know somewhere along the line we will throw in a surprise, like when we won at Wigan last year.

“But for us the games with Crusaders, Wakefield and the like are the crucial ones as you can put down a marker.”