AMBITIOUS Ben Morgan wants Gloucester to target the Premiership's summit – while he goes for the All Blacks' jugular.
The barnstorming number eight believes Gloucester must think as big as possible this season.
After an impressive start to life under Nigel Davies, the 23-year-old reckons the Cherry and Whites must settle for no less than a top-four league finish.
And the former Dursley loose forward is confident the Kingsholm men have all the ability to top the English game's domestic pile.
Backing third-placed Gloucester to do the business against second-placed Saracens at Vicarage Road tomorrow (kick-off 3pm), Morgan also believes England can do the near-unthinkable – and sink New Zealand.
The world champions are gunning to extend their unbeaten run to 21 games at Twickenham today (kick-off 2.30pm), but even after defeats to Australia and South Africa Morgan believes England are unfazed.
Hailing Freddie Burns' England elevation, Morgan said the more Gloucester internationals, the greater the Cherry and Whites' bargaining power for recruitment and retention.
Morgan explained: "We're in the rightful place given our form so far and I think we've got to make sure we're top four at the end of the season.
"And at the moment we've got to push for first place.
"We're a point off the top and there's no reason why we can't be there at the end of the season.
"To have so many players that are close and on the fringe of being involved, it's great for the squad.
"Anyone that's coming up here, they take it back to Gloucester and it grows the squad.
"The likes of Freddie, Charlie (Sharples), and myself being here, it's great. We can go back to Gloucester and take that enthusiasm back with us, and things improve there too.
"International chances are great for individual players of course, but they are great for Gloucester as a whole too.
"The more players who win selection as this level, the more others will want to play for the club, and the more those are here already will want to stay.
"So I'm sure that when it comes to things like recruitment and also keeping top-end players, the more internationals we can boast, the better."
New Zealand's current crop are chasing the 23-match unbeaten streak set by the All Blacks between 1987 and 1990.
Stuart Lancaster believes Steve Hansen's men are probably the world's best current team in any sport, let alone rugby – but has called on England to forget the hype, and the 'myth' of the All Blacks in general.
While Morgan cannot wait to face the Haka he also cannot wait to get stuck into the World Cup holders.
He continued: "We've been massively disappointed not to win either of the last two games, especially against South Africa
"At the same time we've got to be pleased with elements of our game and we've got to try to continue and sustain that.
"I've watched the Haka from the sidelines and it's going to be a whole different thing taking it on up front.
"But they are just a team, just people, and they are just as beatable as anyone else.
"They are a great team, you've got to respect that, but not be in awe of it.
"And we've got to impose our game and see how they respond to being pressured.
"We put a lot of pressure on South Africa, we had very physical defence, and the plan is definitely to repeat that."
Morgan missed out on England's Australia defeat, released for Gloucester action.
A bullish hat-trick in 46-20 London Welsh victory later, and Morgan was back into the England side.
Morgan said his international return owes more to improved breakdown work than that Welsh treble.
Hailing Gloucester's coaching staff for helping him hone his tackle-area acumen, Morgan said: "It's not one defining moment that brings you back in though, it's consistently working hard and playing well.
"Carl Hogg has been spending time with me after sessions, working on defensive elements of my game.
"And in sessions we work on the contact area, all the time.
"Those elements of the game are vital, especially at test level.
"But the way Gloucester play, it really complements me too, so it's almost the best combination for me.
"Both Gloucester and England want the breakdown approach to be consistent and second-nature.
"Only hard work and repetition bring that, and the club have been great with me."
Backing club mate Burns to thrive on the game's biggest stage, Morgan added: "I'm really pleased that Freddie's here, he really deserves his spot.
"I've seen him grow every week at Gloucester, he's got this raw flair that just breaks defences and is incredible to watch.
"But he has really controlled the game and our pack of forwards, and hopefully he can do the same if he gets his chance with England.
"He's a really exciting player but more and more he takes the right option."
