Latics to brave the Lions' den

PETER CLARKE . . . Athletic's veteran skipper knows it will be difficult, but hopes to get the season

ATHLETIC will have to embrace the 'horrible' to get past Millwall, according to the man who knows the Lions' leading protagonists better than most.

Skipper Peter Clarke will lead from the back in trying to combat the front line of last season's play-off finalists.

It's the same role he took on six years ago, when Millwall last gained promotion to the Championship.

Current manager Neil Harris formed a feared partnership with Steve Morison as a Clarke-led Huddersfield side lost 2-0 in their play-off semi-final second leg at The Den.

Morison scored that day and he will be in action again tomorrow, this time in partnership with last season's 27-goal man Lee Gregory.

Clarke knows exactly what to expect from what can be an intimidating atmosphere at Millwall.

His manager Stephen Robinson has continually preached the need to scrap for every loose ball in midfield during pre-season.

And for Clarke (34), a veteran of more than 600 games across a 15-year career, every bit of dirty work will be made to count in a difficult opening game.

"Having played against 'Chopper' (Harris) going back, I'm well aware of the threat they will pose and how he will have them organised and their style of play," Clarke said.

"They will be a hard-working and efficient team. We will go there under no illusions. It will be a tough game and we need the right frame of mind to be ready to go and battle.

"We will have to do all those horrible things to earn the right to take anything form the game."

As for his own fitness, the former Huddersfield and Blackpool man says that he feels as fresh as ever going into the new season.

"I feel in good shape and the body feels good. Over the years I have done relatively well steering clear of serious injuries," added Clarke.

"My thought process at the start of every season is to be in the best shape I can be and to be available for selection as often as is possible.

"And as and when I'm playing, to be up to a good level of consistency."

Clarke is set to work in tandem with loan man Cameron Burgess tomorrow and he praised the attitude of the Fulham youngster (20).

"Cam has some good attributes and has the makings of being a very good centre-back," the captain said.

"He is a very willing learner as a young man and he's receptive to any information that is given to him by anyone - staff, players, myself.

"If he learns fast, he will have a really good future in the game."

Clarke is one of 15 new signings for Robinson this summer. Groundwork has been laid in a pre-season that has often featured arguably Athletic's strongest available line-up, but Clarke accepts that the real test arrives tomorrow.

"As well as fitness, another part of pre-season with a new group of players is that it gives the opportunity for understandings between players to come to the fore," he said.

"That's been the case through pre-season and now we are getting to the nitty-gritty, we will see if it has worked."