Billy Jones is taking his body through the pain barrier after Alan Irvine raised the intensity levels of the Austrian training camp.

The players could have been forgiven for thinking that they were through the worst of it after completing the much feared 200 metre sprints on Monday afternoon. But the players returned from a rest day on Wednesday to put themselves through a gruelling session which included the infamous 'horseshoe' sprints.

Jones is fearful that the worst may yet be to come: "At the end of last season we had a meeting and the Gaffer said that pre-season was going to be harder again, he always wants to push us that little bit more because he knows that it will benefit us in the long run.

"There might be a surprise run out there which is going to shock every one of the lads but we will just have to wait and see what happens.

"I think in this league if you have got eleven players all working hard in every one of your games, giving everything you have got then you have got a chance. You play so many games in this league, sometimes on a Saturday and a Tuesday and it is a grind.

"It's hard during the Christmas months when there are games coming thick and fast but last season we have ground teams down with our pure fitness and drive."

Billy is widely regarded as one of the fittest members of the North End squad, some players even labelling him a robot for his commitment on the training ground. But the defender admits that there are PNE players above him in the fitness stakes.

He said: "I think I do ok in pre-season but there are better lads out there. Chappy and Youl can run a lot better than me and I'm just like the other lads, I try and get through it. It's not easy, every run we have done has been a struggle but I am just happy to get through it and get through it injury free.

"You really feel as though you have achieved something when you get through them. I think people were talking about them in mid-season, they definitely were not looking forward to the 200s, before you know it the season starts again and I think everyone was a bit scared of them. I don't think it was as much of a shock to they system this year, knowing what was coming. The lads got through them, everyone looked strong and made the times so it was good.

"I wouldn't say I am enjoying it but you have got to get through it. It has been very hard but in the long run all the lads know that it will benefit us again. The proof was in the pudding last year when we were getting stronger in the second half of games, coming back from 1-0 down and winning games 2-1 and we also had a lot of players playing more than 40 games, I think that all stemmed from the strong pre-season we had."

One of the highlights of the summer 2009 training camp has been the emergence of youngster Danny Mayor. Jones was a product of the famous Crewe youth system and he fully understands how important it is for a club like Preston to bring the youngsters through the system. Jones has high hopes for current prospect Mayor.

"Danny is looking really good," Jones said of the youngster.

"He's an attacking winger and every time I have played against him I have wanted him to have a run at me just so that I can practice one-on-ones. Danny looks very comfortable and I am sure the other lads back home will do very well when they come and train with us.

"It could be a big year for Danny, you want every player to be fit and strong but there are that many games that people are going to get knocks and he might get his chance this year, I am sure he will do well.

"I believe that last year when he want on loan to Tranmere he absolutely ripped it up. To go from playing in Preston's youth team straight into a League One environment, with Tranmere pushing for Play-Offs, it shows great character.

"I got told that in his first game he ripped up the full-back, delivered a great cross and they scored. He played well but unfortunately he got a knock and he had to come back but I am sure that that gave him massive confidence, to go from Preston's youth team into serious, mans football. If he gets the chance then I am sure he will do well."

Off the field and Jones is hoping to secure a long-term with his Austrian room-mate Andy Lonergan. The defender has been something of an odd-man-out on away trips for the past twelve months and he is keeping his fingers crossed that he has done enough to impress Lonners.

"Last year I was floated between everyone but I am after a solid room-mate. I will have to pull my finger out a bit or I might be floating between people again.

"I thought I had a contract and I was done for the season but I think Andy has put me on trial because I have been very tired from the running and I have slept a lot more than he might have wanted.

"I know a couple of times we have been having a chat and he has turned away only to find I had fallen asleep midway through the conversation. I am going to have to be a bit more lively but the pre-season is very hard and I am trying to get as much rest as I can."