Wilkinson wants Scorpions to impress from the off
The Scorpions open the new season at home to Sheffield in the competition this evening (7.30pm), looking to make a head start in clinching their first piece of silverware in the second flight.
Wilkinson and his team-mates came desperately close to doing just that in 2009, making three cup semi-finals – including losing to Edinburgh in the Trophy.
And Scunthorpe's number three wants to see them quickly settle back into a winning momentum.
"They call it Mickey Mouse meetings but we go out there whatever to earn our bread and butter," said Wilkinson.
"We're not treating it like that.
"Silverware is silverware at the end of the year. If we won that and came second in the league, the cup would be what everyone talks about and it would be a successful season.
"If we can progress through that extra round it will be great.
"The first two weeks of the season everyone is looking at each other and seeing what you're doing from the word off.
"If we can chuck ourselves in that mix early on, it will be good.
"We made good progress from our first season (in the Premier League) and if we progress a little bit more, we are capable of winning something."
The Tigers will have three former Scorpions in their side at the Eddie Wright Raceway – Richard Hall, Josh Auty and Paul Cooper – while Scunthorpe added just one new face over the winter in Joel Parsons.
It is a line-up that will serve the Scorpions well, according to Wilkinson, who is eager to get the action underway.
"There's been a lot of changes round most of the clubs and a lot of weaker teams last year look to be quite strong now," said the 28-year-old.
"The team's had a season together now, apart from Joel. We all get on well and all know how each other rides now.
"We've added Joel into the mix, which gives us a real strong middle order.
"Joel has been about long enough and we all know him, so he should fit in well.
"I think this year has got the makings for Scunthorpe, I think we stand a good chance.
"I've been looking at half-finished bikes for the past few months and hoping it would hurry up because I was getting bored, so I can't wait now."
Scorpions rider Carl Wilkinson insists he won't take the Premier Trophy lightly.
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