Stirling Albion’s Ross McMillan is aiming high as he looks to help his new side to an immediate return to League One.

The defender moved to Forthbank this summer having captained Stenhousemuir to survival last season, and insists the Binos have what it takes to top League Two come the end of the season.

And the 32-year-old admitted that anything other than a title challenge would mean a disappointing season for Stuart McLaren’s men.

McMillan told Stirling News Sport: “People are talking about us as favourites for the league so it will be good to be able to gauge where we are after pre-season. With the calibre of player we have, winning the league is definitely a reasonable aim. We’re under no illusion that finishing top of the division is high on the list of priorities.

“Of course, getting promoted any way we can would be good but we really feel we can go and win the league. The manager has brought in some good players and at this stage, anything but a top-four finish would be a disappointment. We’ve seen enough across the pre-season games to know that we will be good enough to beat anyone in the division.” McMillan revealed he was pleased with the Binos’ pre-season campaign, which saw them defeat Premiership side Hearts to lift the Supporters Direct Scotland Cup before losing to English League One outfit Oldham Athletic.

He said: “On the whole I think pre-season went well. The Oldham game speaks for itself, but they are a team preparing to play at a much higher level compared to ourselves.

“I said to the boys that it’s always good to get into a winning habit, and to get our hands on any trophy gives them a lift. There are a few names still there from last season who were on a bit of a downer after how the campaign went, but they’re getting there. Hearts put out a strong team, so it was a good result, and that always gives you a boost going into the start of the season.” The veteran defender hopes to play a part in the Binos’ first competitive game when they play Elgin in the Petrofac Training Cup on Saturday, despite picking up a slight muscle injury in the defeat to Oldham.

He added: “Hopefully the injury will clear up for the weekend because I don’t want to be missing the first competitive game of the season. Pre-season is good but of course everybody wants to get back into the real action as quickly as they can.

“It will be a tough game up at Elgin because nobody really knows how anyone else is going to play this early in the season. Nobody has played each other yet and it is a long journey up to Elgin but the boys are looking really good.”