HEAD coach Jonathan Woodgate believes Preston boss Alex Neil will have his side “fired up” for the visit of Cherries to Deepdale tomorrow (3pm).

Neil guided the Lilywhites to a 3-2 victory over Cherries in December, then facing off against former Cherries manager Jason Tindall.

But Woodgate guided his Middlesbrough team to a 2-0 victory in Lancashire last season.

Speaking ahead of the contest, the Cherries boss said: “Firstly Alex is a very, very good manager. He’s had great success with Hamilton and with Norwich.

“On a shoestring budget at Preston, he’s done an equally good job.

“They are always thereabouts looking at the play-offs and, listen, he will have his players fired up for this one.

“He will be thinking ‘Bournemouth are coming into town – ex-Premier League club – we need to get in and about them’.

“But like I say, he’s done a really good job.”

Deepdale manager Neil is hopeful a couple of players who have been on the sidelines recently will return for the clash.

Liam Lindsay, Paul Gallagher, Ryan Ledson, Sean Maguire, Alan Browne and Billy Bodin are all working their way back to full fitness.