Stuart Beavon is ready to return to Simon Grayson starting XI if required, after appearing from the bench against MK Dons.
The striker was a second-half substitute in the 2-2 draw, his first competitive action of the campaign following a pre-season injury against Chorley.
And the North End No.10 feels that a 90 minute performance is now within him.
Speaking exclusively to PNE.Com, he said: “I think I am more or less there and ready to go now.
“I played a reserve game the other day and another one today and I’m ready to go.
“You could run marathon after marathon and be as fit as anyone, but when you get on the football pitch it is completely different to all other fitness which you notice today when you are playing.
“It was nice to get a run out on Saturday after being out for so long.
“I only played a few minutes in pre-season, but I hadn’t obviously played towards the end of last season as well so it was really nice to be back in.
“It was only about 15 minutes, but you notice the difference straight away from running on the training ground.
“The bounce game today, it was nice to get 90 minutes under my belt.”
An injury in pre-season is something every football dreads from a fitness perspective, but Beav has been in the gym and running hard for several weeks now, and he is ready to pit his wits against the other Lilywhites’ strikers, as they all aim for a starting jersey in the weeks ahead.
Beavon continued: “Missing that length of time in pre-season is massive, that is the base of your fitness.
“I was in running with Matt Jackson the physio everyday and was fit.
“I could run all day, but as soon as you put that into a game situation and the movements are all different and it is short and sharp, it is completely different.
“There is loads of competition between the strikers which is healthy and it is good.
“All the boys, we are all in it together, whoever is in the team.
“At the end of the day, because we have good competition for all the places, it is only going to make the team stronger and everyone is fighting for their places and that is what you want.
“We have got good options; we have got good options on the bench, in the squad.
“There is target men, there is smaller, livelier players, it is good competition to have.”