Clint McKay does not expect Leicestershire to struggle this summer as badly as they have in recent County Championship seasons.
The Foxes have finished bottom of Division Two the last three seasons, although at least 2015 saw them end a run of more than two years without a four-day win.
Despite claiming two victories over the summer, Leicestershire were still 35 points adrift of eighth-placed Derbyshire, but McKay feels their progress can continue this season.
Leicestershire have signed a pair of experienced County Championship batsmen in Mark Pettini and Paul Horton, while all-rounder Neil Dexter has arrived from Middlesex.
"We showed a lot of improvement last year, some good signs, but at the end of the day we only won two first-class games," McKay told Sky Sports News HQ.
"This year we are not here to make up the numbers, we want to compete and win games of cricket. I think we're in for a very successful year in all forms of the game. It's really exciting times for the club."
McKay is back after a successful season in Australia, where he was part of the Sydney Thunder squad that won the Big Bash League, while his state Victoria won the Sheffield Shield earlier this month - he was not involved in the final.
The 33-year-old recently announced his retirement from international cricket in order to concentrate on Leicestershire this summer.
"I had a great time at home. And obviously a little bit of success to start off with at Sydney Thunder. Also managed to get to the Sheffield Shield final with Victoria this week and that was very exciting," he added.
"I hope I can bring some experience like last year. Another year older, another year wiser. Changing Big Bash teams at home this year it was good to get some new ideas and play alongside some of the greats in Jacques Kallis, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson.
"It's upskilling your own skills and also improving your knowledge of the game, especially in T20, and that was fantastic."