WORCESTERSHIRE opener Anurag Singh has set out a challenging agenda for the rest of the season -- for himself and the team.

Firstly, the determined 27-year-old would dearly love to help the County gain promoted from the second division of the Frizzell County Championship.

Secondly, he'd like to see Worcestershire capitalise on his man-of-the-match display against Leicestershire in the quarter-final of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy by beating Lancashire in the semi-final at New Road on Saturday, August 9.

And, thirdly, by the time the campaign comes to an end he hopes to have piled up 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the third successive year.

For Singh it's a testing three-point plan, which he's convinced can be achieved. As far as the County's top priority of promotion goes the former Warwickshire batsman has no doubt that director of cricket Tom Moody's men have the right credentials to reach the top flight after missing out by just 1.75 points last term.

"The side is definitely good enough to get promotion. If we perform to our potential we are good enough not only to win this division but also to do well next year with the same squad of players in division one," said Singh.

He added: "I don't see anything apart from Surrey and Lancashire, and people like that, who are any further advanced than us, so we could definitely be competitive next year with this squad - and we have got a year of development to come."

Singh is eager for ambitious Worcestershire not to become 'tagged' as second division side. He said: "Nobody wants to be number two at anything. Personally I enjoy playing cricket whatever, but you want to play at a higher level as possible. So it would mean a lot to play at that level."

Singh admits it took him some time to slot into a first-class run-scoring groove this season, but by the end of May his fortunes began to improve.

Half-centuries in the Championship matches with Gloucestershire and Derbyshire paved the way for a ton-up performance against Somerset at Bath when he made 105.

His efforts against Gloucestershire at New Road earned him an undefeated 83 -- the first player to carry his bat through a Championship innings for Worcestershire since Elliott Wilson scored 104 in a total of 182 against Middlesex three years ago.

"Things picked up after a start which I couldn't really do much about. I got a few delivers that were just a little bit fruity, but Tom (Moody) kept faith in me which was good.

"You do look at your game but if you don't see anything wrong then you can only attribute dismissals as uncontrollable - and then you fight another day.

"When runs started to come I didn't actually do anything different to the first few weeks. The pitches were better and I started to click and find some rhythm."

Singh certainly found the right rhythm in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy quarter-final with Leicestershire at Grace Road -- but in the end it proved a painful experience.

He hit 74 but at one stage needed the aid of a runner after suffering a hamstring injury while attempting a quick single.

His battling innings, however, went a long way towards helping the County reach the last four for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 1994.

Singh, who was not selected to play in one-day matches this season until being called up to face Glamorgan in a National League game at Swansea on June 8, said: "Whenever you get your chance you try and make your mark. I look to be positive in four-day games and I look to be positive in one-dayers."

In the recent league match against his former county Warwickshire at New Road he made 97- his highest score so far in the competition. And when it comes to the first-class arena he's certainly positive about one thing -- that he wants to complete 1,000 runs for the third year on the trot.

"That's one achievement I'd be quite proud of because I've only had two full years in first-class cricket and I've got a thousand both times. That's the benchmark."

In his debut season in 2001 Singh scored 1,054 first-class runs in 31 innings at an average of 36.34. Last term he chalked up 1,167 in 32 innings at 36.47.

"I'd love to get 1,200-1,300 this season, but also you have got to play in the context of the game, the wicket and the team so a few more match-winning scores will go down nicely."