THERE are no two ways to put it - Preston have to win this weekend if they wish to remain second in the Second!

And North End have a perfect opportunity to get back to their winning ways when Northampton arrive at Deepdale.

Currently third from bottom, the Cobblers should not give the home side many problems.

But the strain of having such a small squad started to show at the weekend when Bournemouth became the first club to do the double over Preston, winning 1-0.

North End were without FIVE first team players and that situation isn't improving much.

Ryan Kidd looks set to be out for much of the run-in. He was due to undergo surgery today on his ankle injury.

Moyes said: "We don't yet know how bad it is going to be until the operation."

Elsewhere in the league, third placed Walsall take on top dogs Fulham. A Fulham victory would be ideal. PNE must realistically be hoping to snatch second place this season and any opportunity to increase the points gap between them and the third, fourth and fifth placed teams will be gratefully received.

So late in the season, yet there is still so much to play for.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.