When Sam Hocking's loan spell with Plymouth Albion came to an end last season, there was very much a feeling of unfinished business.

The former Bath and Liskeard-Looe back-row (pictured) returned to parent club the Cornish All Blacks in February having made just two brief appearances for Graham Dawe's side during a month in Plymouth.

However, he clearly did enough to impress during his stint with the club with confirmation of a permanent move to the Brickfields coming last month.

Hocking now sees this as his time to shine. "I didn't really get the opportunities that I was looking for when I came here on loan last season," he said. "But that's why I'm here now to prove a point more than anything and try and nail down that starting position.

"I thought I adjusted well to the standard, it's a lot more physical up here but that's a strong point in my game. It's now just about getting that fitness base and pre-season has helped a lot."

Hocking will have to hit the ground running before the arrival of Canadian international back-row Aaron Carpenter, who is still waiting for his visa and work permit to be approved. "It is going to be a challenge," said Hocking, "Aaron's an international player at the end of the day – I'm the one who has it all to prove."

Then there's his old mate Wayne Sprangle, who has been a team-mate at both Bath and Cornish All Blacks. But Sprangle might not be so pleased about Hocking's arrival. Hocking said: "I was saying to Wayne the other day – he was at Bath the year I arrived and he moved on the year after, then he was at Launceston the year I came and left a year later. This might be Wayne's last season!"

The 17st No.8 Hocking certainly made great progress during his time in Launceston and remembers his time at Polson Bridge fondly.

"I really appreciated my time with the Cornish All Blacks," he said. "They gave me an opportunity after coming back down from Bath.

"I settled in well, they are a great bunch of boys down there – I couldn't have wished for better. There is a great family feel at that club. I wish them all the best this year."

His loyalties now are firmly with Albion, however. And building on last season's achievement of reaching the Championship play-offs is the primary objective.

Hocking said: "Last year's squad did really well getting into the play-offs and that's got to be our target again and we'll look to push on from there."

First up, however, is a friendly clash with Neath in a week's time. "I'm looking forward to the Neath game," said Hocking. "The boys are itching to get out there and pull on the shirt and get a little bit of game-time. It's a chance to stake your claim for the shirt – if I put in a good performance there, who knows – it could be in my possession."

Further competition for places in Albion's forward division will also come with the arrival of Ireland student international lock Robin Copeland, who expects to at the club permanently next month.

"I should be arriving on August 9 or 10," said the 22-year-old, who has been on trial at the Brickfields over the summer.