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" Final preparations have gone well and everyone has trained really hard and we've been able to get in some rest as well after the Palace game. Everything is now geared up to going to Carlisle for the opening game of the season. We're just trying to keep them ticking over now until 3pm Saturday but it's important that they focus on what we have been working on this week for the start of the season.
" Charlie (MacDonald) is coming up with the squad. He has got a good chance of being ready and available. Carl (Cort) has had a pain killing injection in his Achilles so will probably be out for at least a week or so. The only other one concern is Kirk Hudson who has a groin problem so he won't be travelling either but everyone else is fine and raring to go.
" We're confident that we can perform well. We've brought better players into the club. It's whether they can gel in the league and out-perform what we did last season. Our aim has to be to get as close as possible to the play offs and may be even get into them. We will be doing our utmost to do that and I think people are tipping us to achieve that because we are a difficult side to play against.
" We are enthusiastic, energetic, organised with some good talent. If everything goes to plan we want to improve on last season. I keep re-iterating that there is a big gap to make up on the play offs. We need a big effort to get in there and if we can overachieve again like we've done for the last two years then there is a chance we could nick in there.
" We want to win as many games as we can and pick up maximum points where we can. Everyone knows that 52 points keeps you up but that's not our strategy this year. Our strategy is to win more games by turning those numerous draws we had into wins. If we can do that with half of those draws we had then we give ourselves a real fighting chance to pick up those 18 points that we were behind sixth spot. "
" We need to go into games with the aim to win and not be happy to settle for a draw. I think we have got the players to do that with. They have the right mentality and the quality is there as well. Hopefully we will add in a few more goals as well.
" Carlisle have definitely moved a few out and in. However, they've still got the nucleus of their side from last season so we will have a good idea of what they are about. Obviously Greg (Abbott) has put his stamp on the team and he's realised what he has got to do. We did the double over them last season and they will be looking to get that back on us no doubt.
" We have had them watched. I think it's difficult to assess teams in pre-season including us. You tend to put the emphasis at times on people getting through 90 minutes to get their match fitness so you have to sacrifice certain things in those games. The first day of the season is a totally different scenario where there's something on the game and the crowd are totally different as well and hyped up.
" It is exciting but the last couple of weeks leading up to the first game is absolutely manic for me. It's ridiculous. No matter how early you start your pre-season planning those last couple of weeks seem to always be extra busy. We are excited about it and I am excited about it.
" There's nothing like the adrenalin rush when you come out of the tunnel for the first game of the season. That's why we are in the game to play in front of big crowds in the big games and win them. That's why you train so hard in pre-season so that come the opener you are in tip-top condition to be able to perform at the top of your ability. "