NATHAN Thompson insists Town’s back line will be fully prepared to deal with Preston’s potent attack at Wembley tomorrow.

Town are one of only three sides in League One to have stopped Preston scoring this season, when they shut out the Lilywhites for a 1-0 win back in November.

Of late of course Town’s defence has been far leakier and there is no doubt if they were to ship five goals at Wembley, like they did 12 days ago, there would be no victory parade.

Town’s backroom staff are reluctant to prepare for individual opposition players in training, preferring instead to focus on their own tactical approach.

However Thompson and co will have analysed videos of Preston’s attack and worked on defending in general.

Thompson, a doubt with injury for Sunday’s final, knows whoever lines up at Wembley will be tested, but he is also adamant the defence will be ready for it.

“We have watched plenty of games and had scouting reports come back, so we have done our homework and come Sunday we will be fully prepared,” the skipper told the Advertiser.

“It is a fantastic feeling to be in the final, but there is certainly work to be done. Both (Jermaine) Beckford and (Joe) Garner are fantastic strikers and capable of playing at a higher level than League One and it is up to us to keep them quiet.

“We have made sure we have worked on (defending) over the last couple of days in training, putting it right. We can’t allow the players they’ve got, the likes of Beckford and Garner, to have the opportunities that we gave away against Sheffield (United).

“We are making sure we can get out and stop crosses because Preston do rely on a lot of balls into the box. If we can cut it at source and dominate the ball then we’ve got every chance.''

Town have been on the receiving end of Preston’s firepower quite recently, in the 3-0 defeat at Deepdale last month. However because of the much-changed side that took the field for Town that day Thompson does not believe there is much to read into from that game.

“The game that we played at their place was slightly deceiving,” he added.

“We had a young team out with boys who had not played massive amounts of football this season and they were two or three games from promotion, so it was strange one.

“The reports coming back still said that we dominated the game and the 3-0 scoreline was unfair, so we will take confidence from that and from the 1-0 scoreline at home.”