The left back is still feeling the effects of the tackle with forced him out of last week's Reading match.

He has bruising on his foot and has not trained since.

And while Seasiders boss Ian Holloway is hopeful Crainey will make it, he's taking nothing for granted.

"Hopefully it will be good news though it's too early to tell yet," said the manager.

"It is one of those knocks that does hurt, if that makes sense.

"But knowing Stephen Crainey coaches and horses won't stop him playing.

"If you know what he's like as a person you'll know what I mean so we are pretty optimistic he will be fit."

Crainey has missed one league game so far – the home match with Derby at the start of the season – and will be loath to miss another.

Pool's players have been given a breather by their manager ahead of the big game.

Holloway gave them yesterday and today off and told them to relax with their families.

They meet again at Fylde Rugby Club tomorrow and will spend the next two days training hard.

"Because the game is on a Monday we've had to switch things around and try and replicate how we normally do things before a Saturday game," explained Holloway.

"So we'll spend the next couple of days working and preparing and getting ourselves in the right shape to try to beat Preston.

"It's been difficult training-wise because the weather is horrendous for everybody. We've had to play on the astro-turf quite a bit, which isn't ideal.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get on some grass over the weekend and that's what we'll be trying to do."

Ishmel Demontagnac is available for the North End clash after completing a three-match suspension.

Holloway says the winger is "looking good" and is likely to name him among the substitutes.

DON'T MISS OUT EIGHT-PAGE DERBY PULL-OUT, ONLY IN SATURDAY'S GAZETTE.