Steve Finnan admits he is already bracing himself for a showdown with Jamie Carragher for a first team slot at Liverpool.
The Irish international right-back, who formally completes his move to Anfield from Fulham at the beginning of next month, concedes that he will have to fight to get the shirt from Carragher.
Finnan said: "I'm confident in my own ability. But it's a very good squad so it certainly won't be a case of me walking straight into the team.
"At Fulham the squad is smaller and probably half the players are guaranteed their places - but it won't be like that at Liverpool."
England international Carragher warned Finnan he is in for a real battle to claim the right-back role when he said: "Better players than Steve Finnan have come to this club and tried."
And Finnan understands that the difference between Fulham and Liverpool is massive. He said: "Fulham was a great club, but realistically, at Liverpool you've got real world class players and I suppose playing with them can only improve your game.
"Liverpool are a massive club. In my mind they are one of the top three in the country with Manchester United and Arsenal - and there's great history there.
"And if one of the top three clubs in the country comes in for you, then I just think it's in your best interests to go. I'm really looking forward to it.
"It means you're involved in higher profile games - they're not in the Champions League - but they'll be expected to do well in the UEFA Cup."