The 28-year-old Welshman led the Black Cats in their opening pre-season friendly at Darlington last night with skipper Dean Whitehead close to sealing a move to Stoke.

Steve Bruce's men completed a comfortable 4-0 win over the League Two outfit before heading off to Portugal and then, next weekend, the prestigious Amsterdam Tournament.

However, all that is merely the prelude to the opening game of the new league season at Bolton on August 15, and Collins is hoping for a big improvement on their scrap for top-flight survival last time around.

Asked what the aim should be for the new campaign, he said: "Top half - I don't see anything below top half as good enough.

"Looking at Fulham last season, they finished seventh and I didn't really feel they, when we played them over the two games, were any better than us.

"But they perhaps worked together better as a team, and that is the sort of benchmark we have got to be looking at for next season."

Collins' comments will strike a chord with both owner Ellis Short and chairman Niall Quinn, who are determined to end the club's yo-yo existence and avoid another fight against relegation.

To that end, they, along with manager Bruce, are currently trying to strengthen the squad with the kind of player they have not been able to target before.

That was illustrated by Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch's visit to Wearside yesterday to discuss a possible £12million move to the Stadium of Light.

The 28-year-old is understood to be holding similar talks with Fulham today, while former club Tottenham are also waiting in the wings with Bruce hoping for a decision over the weekend.

But whatever happens on that front, Collins believes the pursuit of players such as Crouch and Manchester City defender Richard Dunne is proof of the club's ambition.

He said: "We have got a great chairman and they are putting the money in, the other top man in charge as well. They are really having a go.

"The players we are trying to get in are only going to strengthen us.

"It's no good every season sticking with the same lads, you need to freshen it up.

"After where we finished last year, lads have moved on and naturally we are going to bring new players in.

"Looking at the players we are after, it is only going to strengthen us for next season."

Former boss Roy Keane invested heavily in the playing squad after dragging the Black Cats back into the Premier League at the end of the 2006/07 season, spending a total of almost £80million on new signings.

However, Collins is a survivor of the Mick McCarthy era and has made the £140,000 the club paid to take him to the Stadium of Light from Chester in October 2004 look a genuine bargain.

Having seen both players and managers come and go during the intervening years, he has no qualms about having to fight for his place and is looking forward to a new challenge.

Collins said: "It's my sixth season here now and I have certainly had to work hard.

"I am not saying none of the other boys have, but I have had to fight off challenges from other lads and really prove myself here.

"But I have enjoyed it, especially the last couple of seasons in the Premier League. I feel I have pushed myself and done quite well.

"But a new manager has come in now and I have got to start again and impress him and hopefully get my shirt for the start of the season."