Ciaran Kilduff believes Shelbourne will be ready for the step up to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
The Tolka Park side are back in the top flight for the first time since 2013 after last season's promotion from the First Division.
Shels striker Kilduff top-scored for the club in the 2019 second tier but he told RTÉ Sport that Ian Morris' side have enough quality within their ranks to compete adequately in the Premier Division.
"I've had it in my career. I've played in the First Division for two seasons now and the rest of them, I've been in the Premier," he said.
"So I know there is a massive gap in quality standard and demands physically and there are more league games in [the Premier Division].
"There's a plan here to push on as a club - hopefully we can do it" - Ciaran Kilduff is confident Shels can shine on their return top the top flight #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/MCVn2R21r9
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 5, 2020
"So there's a lot in it. But I think for us as a group it will be okay. We're well equipped and we have a lot of experience.
"As I said, me and many others in that dressing room have probably seen both sides of the coin, First Division and Premier.
"And there is a gap and a bigger expectation and demand on the body.
"But hopefully, we'll be ready for it and I think we have the players to be competitive in this league and we're not there to make up the numbers either."
He added that the club are setting their sights higher than just survival beyond the short-term.
"We have an ambitious manager and staff. The club as a whole are trying to push on now," he said.
"They don't want to just get promotion and go back down or fighting a relegation battle or anything like that.
"There is a plan here to push on as a club, so hopefully we can do that."
Shelbourne will begin their Premier Division campaign against Cork City at Turner's Cross on 14 February, before a home fixture against reigning champions Dundalk one week later at Tolka Park.
