Having won each home match in the Championship season so far, manager Ryan Lowe is looking for his PNE side to continue their excellent form at Deepdale.
As part of the eight-match unbeaten run at the start of the league campaign, North End have picked up four victories on home turf, all with a 2-1 scoreline.
For much of the 2022/23 season, form at Deepdale was a source of concern for the gaffer, but it’s been a different story since the new campaign began.
Ryan said: “When we’re at home we need to make sure we’re solid and resolute first and foremost, but also create chances and express yourself.
“Obviously the style of play has changed a little bit, but what I will say as well is we’ve added a lot of quality to the team as well.
“That’s no disrespect to the lads who were with us last season, but the fact of the matter is we’ve got a little bit better. Most of the lads are now 18 months, nearly two years in with us so they know what we’re doing and what to expect.
“While it’s going great, we want that to continue of course. Our away form’s always been decent, we wanted to make sure the home form gets decent and that’s certainly what we’ve started to do. Again, we want that to continue.”
Coming to Lancashire this weekend are a West Brom side managed by Carlos Corberán, who have lost just once in their previous seven matches.
Ryan has got the better of the Baggies on two occasions since he became North End boss, however in the last meeting between the sides late last year, the Midlands outfit came out on top.
Ryan said: “I think Carlos has done a fantastic job with them. They’ve got some fantastic players as well, as everyone knows.
“They’ve got really top quality Championship footballers, and they’re well-coached.
“They’re going to be hard to beat. They haven’t won away from home but they haven’t really conceded many goals. They haven’t scored many but the teams in the league are so hard to judge, you can’t judge anyone just yet.
“They’ve got some exciting forward players. We know it’s going to be a tough encounter; it’s a tough game.
“Carlos would probably have liked more points than he’s got already but I’m sure they’ll eventually collect the points they need to get up there because it’s a fantastic club and they’ve got some fantastic players.”
For PNE, there may be a return for Will Keane who is coming to the end of his rehabilitation following injury, however he will need to be assessed in training on Thursday and Friday.
There are no fresh concerns for the gaffer, while there has also been progress made with some of the Lilywhites’ longer-term absentees.
The manager said: “Emil [Riis] is on the grass with us. He’s sort of in bit-part contact training, not full contact, but he’ll continue again with us today (Thursday) and then go with the fitness department.
“Ched’s the same. I think we’ve got a potential scan with Ched early October so once that’s come and we get the news off him, he’s ready to go. He’s champing at the bit, but we’re obviously mindful of the need to get another scan to make sure the bone’s healing and [to get] the specialist report on him.
“Hopefully – touch wood – once that’s in, he’s ready to get going.
“Calvin Ramsay’s looking good now. We’re in conversations with Liverpool for when he'll return with us.
“He’s hopefully in the back stages of his rehab with them and then he’ll come to us in the next few weeks hopefully, but we’ll know on that maybe today or tomorrow.”