David Wiese knows you don’t get many chances to make the right early impression on your new coach.

That is why the Sussex all-rounder is delighted to be up and running towards his target for the season already.

Wiese has set an initial goal of 500 runs and 50 wickets as he looks to help Sussex to promotion from division two of the Specsavers County Championship.

He got a fifth of those runs in one innings in the opening match at Warwickshire.

And he has 20% of the wickets too at an average of just 20.4.

The early weeks of the season have been packed with impressive performances from individuals.

But that first win remains elusive, largely down to the weather.

Wiese has been very self-critical of his efforts last season but now there is a fresh start.

He told The Argus: “It’s nice to get off to a good start because it takes the pressure off you just a little for the rest of the season.

“Last season didn’t go to plan. It was a pretty disappointing year.

“You come back and there is a new coach, a new vibe, a bit of a different set-up and it’s nice to make a good start.

“Even though you don’t want to admit it, there’s always that thought in the back of your mind about showing the new coach what you can do.

“Especially as I was not there for training in pre-season.

“The first chance I really got to impress was in the first game.

“You want to show why the club have put faith in you as a Kolpak player.”

Wiese uses the individual target as a way of trying to ensure he helps the team.

He added: “I don’t want to get too caught up on personal targets.

“But, at the same time, if I score 500 runs and take 50 wickets you’d like to think the team will be doing well off the back of it.

“Jofra (Archer) did it last season and I think he was the first since Vasbert Drakes (in 1996).

“That’s my target and it nice to get off to a good start.

“In the white-ball stuff, it’s just to get to a play-off, whatever that takes.

“The club have been pretty disappointed in white-ball cricket in the last few seasons.

“If that comes from me putting in a top performance or just supporting people, so be it.”

Wiese first arrived at Hove as a white-ball cricketer – for just two T20 games while the county waited on Mustafizur Rahman.

That was back in the middle of the 2016 season.

Wiese has hung around for a lot longer than expected.

He said: “(Then coach) Mark Davis asked me if I was available to stay back towards the back end of the season and play some Championship games.

“I was finishing the CPL at that stage. I was free and really wanted to immerse myself in four-day Championship cricket with different conditions and the Duke ball.

“They offered me a more permanent deal to play for Sussex and I really enjoy being around the group and the club.

“Brighton and Hove is a great spot to play your cricket.”

The three-year deal he signed in January, 2017, meant the end of any international honours.

He said: “I was part of the South Africa squad for a successful team at that stage.

“But I’ve no regrets. I’ve put that to bed now but I’m grateful for the international career I had.

“Now it’s all about playing county cricket and helping Sussex.

“I am 100% focused on the County Championship and I’ve said from the start I would happily end my career at Sussex if I could.”

By then, he will hope they are in the top flight although Middlesex will offer a stern threat over the next four days.

Wiese said: “They have a couple of bowlers out but there is a reason why they have been in the top division for a few years.

“When you start the season you think they will be one of the teams up there.”