Fulham manager Jean Tigana is stoking up his side for their tilt
at a promotion campaign to the Premiership, starting with the visit
of Crewe Alexandra to Craven Cottage.
Former Monaco boss Tigana is determined to better the club's ninth-placed finish last season, and he is desperate to get off to a flyer against Dario Gradi's team.
But
the Fulham manager is sweating over the fitness of hitman Karlheinz
Riedle.
The former German international - who Tigana succeeded as the Cottagers' caretaker boss - is struggling to shake off a shoulder injury in time.
Riedle will be given a late fitness test to assess whether he is well enough to take part in the opening match of the 2000-01 season.
But while there is hope of Riedle making the squad, Fulham fans will definitely not see defender Simon Morgan. He went under the surgeon's knife on a knee injury in the summer, and has missed all the Cottagers' pre-season action.
Louis Saha is another who will play not part against Crewe. He picked up an ankle injury in a friendly trip to Tiverton Town in early July and is still on the comeback trail.
Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker is under no illusions about the difficulty of his side's task this season ahead of their opening game in west London.
The Alex have managed to secure their First Division status for the past three seasons, surving on a shoestring budget and Baker is expecting another tough campaign ahead.
He said: "We are always looking to improve and stay out of the relegation issue but we have only got to look at the standard of the league, particularly with the teams that have come down, and it becomes harder and harder each year.
"But we are still aiming to be playing First Division football again next year."
The trip to Fulham represents one of Crewe's hardest games of the season but Baker was hoping that playing Jean Tigana's side earlier in the season might be helpful.
He added: "It couldn't have been much harder but we have got to play them some time. "Maybe it's better to catch the bigger clubs with greater expectations early on.
"The payers always look forward to testing themselves against some of the best players and clubs outside of the Premiership."
Defender David Walton is unavailable for the trip to London as he
has a groin strain but manager Dario Gradi will be picking from
an otherwise fully fit squad.