JOHN McGreal is preparing for battle, writes Derek Davis.First of all for further fitness today against Bury Town and then against his own team-mates.

JOHN McGreal is preparing for battle, writes Derek Davis.

First of all for further fitness today against Bury Town and then against his own team-mates.

The 31-year-old Scouser is also looking forward to renewing old acquaintances with former Tranmere Rovers team-mate Georges Santos, but knows he may be competing for the same first-team slot come the new season.

The pair played together at Prenton Park in the 1998 season when Santos first arrived from France to make his mark in England.

McGreal is a big admirer of the versatile Frenchman and said: "I know Georges well.

"He is a very solid defender in a back four or can do a defensive job in midfield, so he is a bit of a utility player and I'm sure the Gaffer will use him to our strengths of the team.

"I'm looking forward to playing in the team with him again, but to be honest I'm just looking forward to getting games under my belt and whoever I have to knock out of the way to get back in, I will try. It is going to be tough but the battle is there to be won."

A serious knee injury abruptly halted what was looking to be a good season for McGreal and when he looked to be making a comeback he suffered a set-back while playing for the reserves at Portman Road which ruined the rest of the campaign for him.

He is determined to take it steady this time but admits he yearns to be back playing.

He said: "I'm desperate to come back but I can't do what I did last season and push myself too much and end up being injured again for another three months of the season.

"I hope to be involved against Bury for the reserves and build my fitness up game by game."

The Blues squad are looking forward to the new promotion push so much that no one wants to be left out, but McGreal knows lessons have to be learnt from last season when Town plummeted to third bottom before clawing their way back up to seventh.

He warned: "We are going to have a good go this season and it is important to get of to a good start.

"There will be intense competition for places and hopefully I will be knocking on the door in a couple of weeks' time."