And there will be no love lost when they two go head-to-head for the left-back role this term.

"I had to take a back seat to Callum a bit last year, but this season is different," declared Hill.

"I have got the bit between my teeth now. And hopefully, fingers crossed, if I can get myself back in the side I intend to stay there."

Hill was back in the team on the final day of last term when North End wrapped up their season with a trip to his old club Bristol City.

Hill knows it was a sentimental decision as much as anything else by boss Alan Irvine, a 'thank you' for staying patient and professional through a rollercoaster season.

Davidson was rested for the final match and his competitor given his first start since February.

But now, with everyone getting a clean sheet for the new campaign, the battle for left-back looks like presenting Irvine with a real selection headache ahead of Portman Road.

"Competition is always what managers want and it's no different here," said Hill.

"It is good to have good competition around the squad, although we are all good friends as well.

>> Click here to listen to our PNE pre-season special podcast featuring Barry Nicholson, Callum Davidson, Paul McKenna, Matt Hill and Chris Sedgwick.

"The competition this year is going to be fierce, very fierce.

"I'm just giving it everything in the hope I can get that left-back spot and keep hold of it. But then Callum will be doing the same.

"He did very well last season and I fully supported him. That's what the lads are like here, we all get behind each other no matter who is in the team and who isn't."

Hill admits pre-season this year under Irvine has been 'tough'.

"He did warn us it would be and he wasn't lying. We've just been
trying to get through it and ticking off the days until the games get
underway.

"We are going into the new season in a very optimistic way.

"We feel we can take plenty of positives from the way we finished last season.

"We know what it's like to be down there at the bottom of the table after the way we started last year and we know we didn't like it. So that's motivation.

"We are going to be fighting hard to push our way up to the opposite end of the table this time. Although everyone knows it won't be easy.

"I think it is going to be doubly difficult this year because of the teams who have come down and come up. There are even more big clubs than last year and it is going to be tough.

"But we're feeling good and hopefully we will be ready for it."

The first day takes Preston down to Portman Road to tackle Ipswich, a team with the best home record in the league last year.

"It's going to be a tough one, but it is also a good one to get out of the way early on," said Hill.

"They are a footballing club and they have money behind them, so they are going to be wanting to go places.

"But we will be a force too. We want to start well because it is so
important to get some points in the bank.

"Last season we lost a couple and, even though we thought we could turn it around, it was taking longer and longer to do it.

"We don't want to be playing catch-up again this year, We want to be off to a flier for a change."

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