CRAIG Brown takes his Preston team into the first league match of the season against a side managed by the man who likes nothing more than getting one over the Lilywhites - Trevor Francis.

Francis, once the country's most expensive player, has never forgiven North End for the infamous playoffs semi-final at Deepdale in 2001 which went down to penalties.

The then-Blues boss promptly lost his rag when the team's were ordered to take the spotkicks in front of the PNE stand (as opposed to the Town End which was a building site at the time) and promptly took his men off the pitch.

When they returned to the field, North End cooly did the job and went through to the finals.

Of course, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Francis has moved clubs - of course, Birmingham are now in the Premiership, less than a year after Francis left - and Craig Brown is now in charge in Preston.

But expect changes among the Preston starting 11 as well, with Ricardo Fuller probably lining up alongside Richard Cresswell upfront after the two paired up well in pre-season.

New skipper Chris Lucketti may also have new signing Marlon Broomes, who signed on Wednesday, alongside him as well.

Craig Brown fully expects to have a full squad to pick from, with Dickson Etuhu expected to have overcome a stomach strain.

The battle is now on among the central midfielders to become Brown's first choice following the departure of Sean Gregan on Monday.

For Palace, Brentford defender Darren Powell signed on at Selhurst Park for £400,000 earlier this week. Francis hopes he will provide the backbone sometimes lacking in his side last season.

But Francis does have injury worries which have forced him to conceed he won't have his first choice team available on Saturday.

Julian Gray, Kit Symons, Jamie Smith, Craig Harrison and Ade Akinbiyi are all out injured until September.

Brown said: "I think most of my team are ready for the new season. They have shown that in pre-season."

PRESTON NORTH END v CRYSTAL PALACE

3PM SATURDAY, DEEPDALE