Manager Simon Grayson is excited by the challenge of the Championship this season.
After a successful first season back in the second tier of English football for the gaffer and the club, the PNE boss feels the league is as competitive as ever this coming season.
Speaking to PNE PlayerHD ahead of the big kick-off, Grayson said: "It's a real competitive division the Championship, I think it's getting stronger year in year out. The money that they spend at the top of the Premier League is ultimately drip fed down into teams that have been relegated from the Premier League so they've got huge budgets, huge playing staff, but reputations count for nothing over the course of a season.
"You need to have the application, the right desire, the right characteristics and desire to succeed and that comes with the staff as well. I'm looking forward to pitting my wits against people like Rafael Benitez who this time last year was manager of Real Madrid, now he's a manager in the Championship.
"That's what it's all about, I think it's probably one of the best divisions in Europe once you take out the top divisions of France, Spain, Germany and the Premier League. It's got to be in the top six or seven leagues given the players that are playing in it, the managers that are working in it and the number of supporters that go to watch games.
"It's exciting, it's a challenge, it's hard work at times, but ultimately it beats working for a living doesn't it!"
There may be some big names in the league this year in terms of clubs, players and managers, but that won't phase the North End manager and his staff going into the new campaign, who have faith in the group they have at Deepdale.
"It's all about 11 players, a manager and a few coaches trying to do their best. Whatever system you play and whatever personnel you've got, if your players go out there every week and give you everything that's required then you can have no qualms about what the result is at the end of it.
"That's all you can ask for from your players, give it your best shot. When you look back last year that's what we did, we went out and there were very few occasions where we were disappointed with how we played over the course of 90 minutes.
"We have got to have the same attitude, and be respectful of the opposition but don't be fearful of them. You make sure that when you go out there you stand up against each other and give your best for your club."
To hear more from Simon, watch our extended interview on PNE PlayerHD by clicking here.