STOKE CITY put the finishing touches to their pre-season preparations this week . . . with Ryan Shawcross admitting they can't wait for the big kick-off to come now.
Shawcross and his team-mates open their third season in the Barclays Premier League with a Staffordshire derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Manager Tony Pulis has put his first team squad through a gruelling pre-season build-up over the past month, but all the attention is now focussed on the trip to Molineux.
"I know I can't wait to get out there on Saturday and I'm certain all of the other lads are feeling exactly the same way now," revealed the 22-year-old defender.
"It has been an unbelievably tough pre-season for us, but when we get out there at Molineux we know all that hard work will all have been totally worthwhile.
"No player enjoys pre-season, but when you are this close to the first game of the season, you look back on it all and you are happy to have got through it all."
He added: "This is always a good week for the lads though because you know the season is right around the corner. We are excited, but at the same time we are still working very hard making sure everything and everyone is ready."
The Potters make the short journey down the M6 this weekend looking to kick the campaign off in perfect fashion and while acknowledging the clash will be "extremely difficult", Shawcross is confident he and his team-mates can claim three points.
"Wolves are a very good side who, like ourselves, did very well to stay in the Premier League last season, so we know how difficult the game is going to be," he said.
"They have some very good footballers and they did well against us in both games last season. We probably should have won the game at home, having been two goals up, but they came back and got a point, while there was little to choose between the sides at Molineux.
"They have improved again over the summer by bringing in some very good players and they will be a better team this year than they were last season. They will be desperate to start the season well, especially against us in front of their own supporters."
The England hopeful added: "We will have a good following there too, however, so it is important for us to start well. We know the atmosphere will be electric and we want to go out there put in a good performance, get the win and spoil their party."
