SIMON Grayson is warning his Preston North End side that they’ll have to stomach relinquishing the lion’s share of possession when they host Town this weekend.

Only League One champions Bristol City have dominated the ball more than Preston in their last five matches at Deepdale. Yet the Preston chief is anticipating that his team could come out second best in the possession stakes when they come up against Swindon’s slick ball-retention game on Saturday.

“They play a certain way where they pass it and move, and they play with a lot of freedom about them,” said Grayson.

“This might be a game where they have more possession than us and we have got to be patient.

“That is what they do in every game – they sometimes end up with six players in midfield, playing a 3-6-1.

“I have not seen that formation too often but they have come up with a system to help them out.”

Mark Cooper’s men are certain to be handed a stern test of their credentials ahead of the play-offs when they take on a side that could potentially clinch automatic promotion to the Championship with a game to spare this weekend.

Victory for Preston could be enough to rubber-stamp second-place in the table if third-in-the-table MK Dons suffer a hiccup and are beaten at Rochdale, who themselves could still snatch a spot in the end-of-season shake-up.

But Cooper’s opposite number is also prepping his troops for a difficult day at the office against a Town side that offered up a valiant challenge in the race for second for the majority of the season.

“Swindon have had a fantastic season,” said Grayson. “They have got some very good players and play a certain style, which is testimony to Mark in how he has kept that going all season – he has never changed his beliefs.

“This is a tough game for us.”