The manager conceded it is now a much harder division and admitted that the next nine months would be his toughest as a manager.

But his confidence remains undimmed, especially after this week's big money signings of Rob Edwards and David Vaughan, which have raised the Grayson's spirits immeasurably.

So too did a behind closed doors win earlier in the week when the Seasiders hammered a strong Blackburn Rovers side 4-2, goals from Stephen McPhee, Keith Southern and a brace from Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

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After failing to hit the target in the last five pre-season matches, that high-scoring has assured Grayson that there is no need to worry just yet.

The boss has options all over the pitch as he prepares to select a side to kick off Pool's campaign against last year's play-off finalists Bristol City.

And he is in bullish mood ahead of what is expected to be a near sell out at Bloomfield Road.

"I think overall the squad is stronger and we've got more quality in depth," said the boss.

"That's not a criticism of the players who have left but I like to think we're stronger.

"When you lose Wes Hoolahan and Kaspars Gorkss you've got to replace them and I think we've done that. For starters we've got David Vaughan, Adam Hammill and Joe Martin who can all play in the position Wes did.

"We had a good workout against Blackburn on Monday and looked a lot better than we had done in the previous games.

"We got some goals, some confidence and a lot of players coming back from injury got more time on the pitch.

"So the one win in pre-season doesn't bother me too much. The real action starts tomorrow."

However, Grayson is under no illusions about the size of the task facing him and his players.

All the bookies tip the Seasiders to go down. But the boss isn't bothered by what others think.

"The bookies writing you off can be an inspiration sometimes and the players have to look at it as a challenge," he retorted.

"It will be hard and I think it's a bigger challenge than I've ever had.

"Last season was a big challenge because we knew it was our first time in this division for 29 years.

"But just the size of the clubs we're competing against this year means it is a harder division.

"With the exception of maybe four to six teams, everybody else in the Championship has played in the Premiership and six teams this year will have parachute payments. So that just proves what we're up against.

"It's going to be a tough division. But we are where we want to be, we deserved to stay in the division last year and we want to kick on now.

"To do that we have to make sure we do the things we did last season, work as hard as we did last time, and play the same footballing game.

"Whatever happens after that happens, but if we fall short it won't be for a lack of effort from the players and the management staff. Our target again is to stay up and prove people wrong."

The game kicks off at Bloomfield Road at 3pm with a sell out crowd expected.