HERE we go! Better prepared and harder to beat.

That's Crewe boss Dario Gradi's opinion of his team as they get set to kick off their fourth season in Division One at Fulham this Saturday.

"It's the start of a long campaign," said Gradi. "No relaxing till May."

"We look alright. We don't look as dangerous as we might but we're better than this time last year - we're more prepared and harder to beat."

"Everyone's training and Little's the only fitness doubt but I think he'll be alright.

"The only questions we have are who plays with Rivo and Rodney up front and who plays with Maca at the back.

"I pretty much know how we're going to play."

Supporters know what an achievement it is for Crewe to be playing in this standard of football and Gradi says the next 10 months will be enjoyable.

"I'd rather be fighting at the bottom end of this league than fighting for promotion in the one below.

"There's no choice at the moment but we haven't lost players like last year and we will be looking to the same who finished well last season.

"The defence has improved and the midfield boys are defending better. Their passing is also getting better although we may not have enough competition in that area which is a bit of a concern.

"But there is a lot of competition for the front players and although no-one is really standing out to be that third player, there are the likes of Tait, Hulse and perhaps Cramby.

Fulham is the first in a tough start to the new campaign for Crewe with Blackburn at the Alexandra Stadium a week later, followed by a trip to QPR.

Second favourites to win the league, Mohamed Al Fayed and the fans are hoping their high expectations will be fulfilled by new boss Frenchman Jean Tigana.

Bolstered by the big signings of John Collins and Louis Boa-Morte in addition to a strong squad including class players like Lee Clark, they certainly look a good bet to reach the Premiership this time around.

With a new regime in place, a carnival atmosphere is expected at the ground where Crewe were convincingly beaten 3-0, last September.

"If we go three up in a quarter of an hour there won't be a party atmosphere apart from one end of the ground," said Gradi.

"They caught us cold last year with Unsworth dropping out late and we had to change tactics. I don't think they will this time.

"They play with four at the back with Symons and Coleman and Wayne (Collins) has been at right-back.

"I am not sure how they're going to play but we'll try and stop them.

"The first 10 games will show us where everyone is going to be and we'll play good football and try hard.

"Once we step out on that pitch at Craven Cottage, it's going to be exciting."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.