Manager Simon Grayson takes his side to Highbury to face Fleetwood Town on Sunday and the gaffer expects a tough test against the play-off hopefuls.
Having won the League Two play-offs last season, Fleetwood are looking to make it back to back promotions and the North End boss has been impressed with the Cod Army's season so far in League One as they sit in tenth position.
Speaking to PNE Player ahead of the local derby, Grayson said: They've done really well, they got promoted last year, and we've always said promoted teams can carry the momentum forward and you've seen that."
"Rochdale are up there, and Chesterfield, and Fleetwood as well so it's obviously proven that they've got the winning mentality.
"I think Fleetwood have obviously come huge strides over the last few years, with the chairman there and what he's invested.
"The ground's fantastic, we went there pre-season a few years ago, and it's moving forward as a football club, so all the connections are there but ultimately it's going to be about what happens on the pitch and hopefully we can get three points again."
To hear more from Simon Grayson on this weekend's trip to Fleetwood and more, go to PNE Player.
Speaking to PNE Player ahead of the local derby, Grayson said: They've done really well, they got promoted last year, and we've always said promoted teams can carry the momentum forward and you've seen that."
"Rochdale are up there, and Chesterfield, and Fleetwood as well so it's obviously proven that they've got the winning mentality.
"I think Fleetwood have obviously come huge strides over the last few years, with the chairman there and what he's invested.
"The ground's fantastic, we went there pre-season a few years ago, and it's moving forward as a football club, so all the connections are there but ultimately it's going to be about what happens on the pitch and hopefully we can get three points again."
To hear more from Simon Grayson on this weekend's trip to Fleetwood and more, go to PNE Player.