Preston North End will begin their preparations for the 2022-23 season with a friendly against Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors will again play in the Championship next term, having finished 13th in 2021-22, while Bamber Bridge were sixth in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, only just missing out on the playoffs.
Match preview
Bamber Bridge won 21, drew six and lost 15 of their 42 league matches last season to collect 69 points, which left them in sixth position in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, two points behind fifth-place Warrington Town, as they just missed out on the playoff spots.
Jamie Milligan's side have a busy pre-season schedule, starting with a clash against Preston on Saturday before taking on Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic in their next two.
Bamber Bridge will then travel to Charnock Richard and Longridge Town in their next two on July 12 and July 16 respectively, before facing Bolton Wanderers, Fulwood Amateurs and Ashton Athletic.
The team's final pre-season clash will be against Clitheroe on August 2, and there are expected to be a lot of incomings and outgoings in their squad before the start of competitive action.
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Preston, meanwhile, will again play in the Championship next season, having finished 13th in the second tier during the 2021-22 campaign, 11 points off the playoffs.
Head coach Ryan Lowe will be tasked with overseeing a possible playoff push next term, and the team are building towards the start of their new Championship campaign against Wigan Athletic on July 30.
Preston will face Getafe, Accrington Stanley, Hearts and Leicester City in their four friendlies after this one, with the clash against the Foxes coming one week before the start of their 2022-23 campaign.
The Lilywhites have signed David Cornell and Freddie Woodman this summer, while the likes of Josh Earl, Tom Bayliss, Tom Barkhuizen, Scott Sinclair and Jack Baxter have departed.
Preston have also taken Ben Woodburn on trial, with the former Liverpool youngster looking to earn a contract at the Championship club ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
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Team News
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Bamber Bridge could have a number of trialists involved in this match, with a host of players bidding to win contracts for the upcoming campaign.
There are expected to be familiar names in their side, though, with the likes of Darren Green and Stuart Vasey set to take to the field for the home team.
Preston, meanwhile, have had a strong squad in pre-season training, although Alan Browne and Ali McCann have been given extra time off to recover, having been involved for their countries over the summer.
Head coach Lowe has said that his squad have come back "in good condition", and there are expected to be a number of familiar faces on display in this match.
As mentioned, Woodburn is currently on trial with the club, and he could start on Saturday, while Cornell and Woodman are competing to feature between the sticks.
Bamber Bridge possible starting lineup:
Barton; Alexander, Mahoney, Thompson, Charnock; Barnes, Hankin, Booth, Kay; Green, Vasey
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Olosunde, Bauer, Lindsay, Storey; Woodburn, O'Neill, Potts; Riis, Evans, Maguire
We say: Bamber Bridge 1-4 Preston North End
Preston will be expected to win this match fairly comfortably, and we are struggling to back anything other than a strong victory for the Championship outfit. Bamber Bridge could struggle as the match develops due to the difference in fitness between the two sides, and we are predicting a 4-1 victory for Lowe's team.
Matt Law
