Local rivals Dundalk and Drogheda United kick-off their respective 2008 pre-season campaigns this Thursday evening when the freshly crowned eircom League of Ireland champions are the visitors to Oriel Park for the annual Jim Malone Cup final. For the hosts, it will be the beginning of a hectic four-week period which will also see the Lilywhites go up against Saint Patrick’s Athletic, Bray Wanderers, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Derry City.
 
The most competitive of those, however, will obviously be this week’s opening match, and manager John Gill admits to knowing how important the game is to the natives. Speaking to dundalkfc.com in the build-up to the match, the boss said: “I know how important it is to the fans, and we’ll be striving to win the game. But again, it’s part of our pre-season preparations - we can’t ignore that. We will be going out to win the game, but, at the end of the day, it’s our first game together as a group, and that will tell a lot.
 
“Last year, we played a game against Derry at this time, but the nucleus of that group had been together. We have nine new players here now - there’s eleven survivors here from last year’s squad. I think that I needed to make the changes that were made, I think the dynamic of the group will be better for it, and I really feel that it can be a successful year. I would like to compliment Gerry Matthews and the board as well - they’ve done a magnificent job, they’ve backed me to the hilt and I really feel the club is going from strength to strength.”
 
Dundalk Team News: Ben Whelehan and Paul Crowley have both been working on a separate fitness programme during pre-season training as they bid to return to full fitness, and will not be involved. Gill is likely, however, to be able to call on the other eight of his new arrivals - Aaron Shanahan, Ian Ryan, Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels, Davie O’Connor, Robbie Farrell and Robbie Martin - if so desired. Elsewhere, Whelehan excepted, the boss will be able to choose from the ten remaining players from the 2007 squad.