MATT Gilks and Paul Rachubka are anxiously waiting to find out who will win the battle to begin the Championship campaign as Blackpool's undisputed no.1.
After an impressive season, Rachubka is in the driving seat.
But the summer acquisition of Gilks, who arrived at Bloomfield Road as part of the deal which saw Wes Hoolahan move to Norwich, has made it a real scrap.
That wasn't the case 12 month
s ago, when only out-of-favour Rhys Evans and youngster Lewis Edge were the competition for Rachubka.
Don't miss your 8-page Pool in the Championship preview free with The Gazette tonightGilks isn't just here to make up the numbers. He is determined to nail down a place in the side.
The 26-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the final pre-season fixture at Tranmere last Saturday and looked solid.
But boss Simon Grayson says the fact that he opted for Gilks doesn't mean the former Canary will be in his side for the opener against Bristol City.
Just as he is cagey about who will be named Pool's captain for the forthcoming season, Grayson is also playing his cards close to his chest when it comes to who he's going to pick between the posts.
Grayson would only say: "I thought the Tranmere game was an opportunity for Matt to get some time on the pitch.
"Paul knows the majority of players anyway and how we work, and so we felt it was a chance for Matt to get more minutes under his belt.
"I don't think anyone can read too much into who will be no.1 based on a friendly with Tranmere.
"The team that started and finished probably won't be same as the side which starts at the weekend."
Grayson's comments probably indicate that Rachubka will get the nod.
And the fact that last year's first-choice didn't play against Tranmere is misleading as he was selected for a behind- closed-doors friendly with Blackburn this week.
Rachubka, 27, was an ever-present in last season's 46 Championship games.
Gilks hasn't started a game in two seasons after falling to oust Scotland international keeper David Marshall during his time at Norwich.
However, he has plenty of experience from a seven-year spell at his hometown club Rochdale, where he made almost 200 appearances.
May the best man win.
The full article contains 401 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
