Chris Neal will start in goal for the Lilywhites' pre-season US Tour opener against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field and PNE.Com caught up with the St Albans born custodian who was looking forward to getting a piece of the action.

"It's a great opportunity for me playing in this game," said Neal. "I have seen the pictures on the internet of the stadium and it looks a fantastic place to play. Obviously the attendance won't be that big, but its not about that. For me personally it's about fitness and hopefully we can score a few goals and get the tour off to a winning start."

And the No.30 thinks that the 67,000 capacity ground will be just another extension of preparations as they develop on the tour: "Everything on this trip has been big, that's how the American's like to do it, but it is not about the stadium, it is about preparing right for the game, working hard in the game and hopefully getting a good performance under our belts and a win."

And with the season now less than three weeks away, training and competition for places in intense: "It's got to be expected that it will be hard at this stage of pre-season. The lads are feeling tired, but this is what happens and the lads are eager for the season to start now.

"We've all come back on equal fitness levels and the work we've been doing as goalkeepers has been fantastic and we have healthy competition. We are three young lads, who are all friends, but at the end of the day you have to look after No.1 and whoever starts the season will be looking to keep their place.

"If I don't start the season then I will hopefully be able to look to go out on loan somewhere, but I'm going to keep fighting, training hard and see what the Manager decides to do."

One player unlikely to be fit to face Seattle is Karl Hawley, who will not be risked after only just recovering from a minor knock.