The 28-year-old told BBC Sussex: "It's an exciting time and there's been some real quality come to the club.
"I'd be an idiot to deny there's more pressure. A promotion season comes with its pressures and if we're to achieve we'll have to put up with that."
Crawley have paid transfer fees for Bradford's Scott Neilson, Salisbury duo winger Chris Flood and Matt Tubbs and Peterborough winger Sergio Torres this summer.
Rusk added: "One think for sure is whoever achieves promotion would have deserved it.
"It's going to take a bit of time to gel but we got off to a decent start performance-wise."
Rusk, who has had spells with Boston United and York City, is happy to compete with the club's new signings.
"The lads that were here last year will have to raise their game and the guys coming in will have to prove their worth to the team," he said.
"The manager has got a lot to choose from so we'll be vying to make it as tough as possible for him to pick his side."
Crawley are away to Altrincham in Blue Square Bet Premier on Saturday.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport