By Ian Laybourn, PA Sport

Hull captain Ian Ashbee admits the fixture planners have given the Barclays Premier League new boys a glorious chance to make a flying start to their first season in the top flight.

Saturday's opening clash with Fulham at the KC Stadium is followed by a trip to Blackburn and a home game against Wigan, by which time Ashbee hopes his side
will have accumulated enough points to silence the critics who expect City to fare little better than Derby last season.

Derby's final points tally of 11 was the worst in Premier League history but Ashbee is confident Hull can make the most of their 'kind' opening fixtures.

Easy tigers: Ashbee believes Hull can make a solid start to their premiership campaign

"If we are to stay in the League, we need to win that kind of game," said Ashbee, referring to Saturday's opener.

"That's no disrespect to Fulham but it could have been worse - we could have had Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea in the first three games!

"We could build ourselves a platform after the first three or four games and we could be near Derby's total if things go to plan.

"Comparisons with Derby might take the pressure off us. People are saying we're going to have less points than Derby and we want to prove people wrong.

"The Readings and the West Broms have done it on a smaller budget."

Ashbee is hoping the KC Stadium will prove a fortress to aid their survival campaign but admits the team have a huge psychological hurdle to overcome on their step up into the big time.

"The mind is massive," he said. "It's definitely going to be a massive mental test for us individually. The gaffer believes in that. We have a session in what we call the war room, where we say what we feel.

"We've always relied on our home form in every league we've been in. The KC Stadium can be a horrible place and we need to use that to our advantage."

Ashbee, who has been with Hull through all three of their promotion-winning campaigns, believes that veteran striker Dean Windass will have a big role to play this season and is also heartened by the club's close-season strengthening.

Among the new faces is George Boateng, who is expected to rival the skipper for his midfield role, but Ashbee is philosophical about the new competition for places.

"Players always come and go," he said. "You need competition and it will be a battle for me. If I have to challenge George for my spot, then so be it.

"I respect George but I don't fear that I may not play."