Preston are 40-1 title outsiders, but the Deepdale centre-half is convinced his North End team-mates will emerge as a surprise package.

"This is the fittest I've seen the players since I signed for Preston
two years ago – the lads are flying," said Chilvers.

"Apparently we were 8-1 last season, but we are far better prepared this year.

"There is no reason why we can't make a strong challenge and there's a fantastic vibe at the training ground.

"The level of fitness is superb and that is going to stand them in good stead in the coming months.

"The lads have worked their socks off since they've come back and I can see us doing well this season.

"Even the goalkeepers have had to do the same running as the outfield boys and I'm really impressed with what I've seen.

"All the indications are that the manager will make a few signings before the start of the campaign and that will help give us another edge. We've gone very close to winning promotion in recent years, but I think Stoke and Hull have given us an extra incentive to what can be achieved.

"The infrastructure is right, we've got a fine manager and with the stadium finished, everything seems in place now.

"Remember, we finished last season with a lot of momentum and if we can take that into the first couple of months of the campaign, then we've a great chance of making an impression."

Birmingham are red-hot title favourites for a swift return to the Premier League, but the bookmakers appear to have written North End off already. Preston start the new at Portman Road on August 9, but Chilvers says North End are ready for lift-off.

"The key is that we have strength in depth, and there is competition for virtually every position in the squad. There's going to be a real battle just to get into our first XI.

"For instance, there will be a real scrap for the full-back slot between Billy Jones and Michael Hart.

"I think we can take great heart from the progress we made from January onwards.

"We were in a tricky spot then, but everybody responded to the new manager and I always had faith that we'd get out of that and stay up.

"I've a lot of faith in our manager and this group of players and there's no reason why we can't challenge for the play-offs."

Chilvers will miss the first three months of the campaign as he returns to fitness after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the warm-up before the league clash at Charlton in March.

"I'm making good progress and I might be in contention by November. I think that is a realistic ambition," he added.

For more from Liam Chilvers pick up a copy of Thursday's Lancashire Evening Post.