Shrewsbury v Macclesfield preview

Shrews look to unravel the Silkmen

Last updated: 8th August 2008

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Simpson: Fully-fit squad

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Shrewsbury and Macclesfield finished the 2007/08 campaign level pegging and will be hoping for more this year.

The Shrews struggled to avoid being dragged into the battle at the bottom and never looked like pushing for a top-half finish.

Macclesfield endured a similar story last season and will be hoping to pull clear of the relegation dogfight this time around.

Duo set to start

Graham Coughlan and Grant Holt could make their Shrewsbury debuts in the opening-day clash at New Meadow.

Veteran defender Coughlan, who signed from Rotherham last week, and former Nottingham Forest striker Holt are set to go straight into the side that will face Keith Alexander's men.

Manager Paul Simpson, who has a fully-fit squad to choose from, has plenty of attacking options, with record-signing Holt expected to start alongside last season's top scorer Dave Hibbert.

Midfielder Chris Humphreys is set to return following a knee injury sustained in the pre-season game at Stafford.

Debuts galore

Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander could hand debuts to five new players in their season opener.

Lee Bell, Simon Yeo, Neil Harvey, Ahmed Deen and Paul Morgan all signed for the Silkmen during the summer and could feature.

Defenders Sean Hessey, Richard Walker and Morgan sat out last weekend's pre-season friendly win at Stalybridge and Shaun Brisley came off with a foot problem after half an hour.

But they are all expected to be available as Alexander's men seek to make a winning start to their campaign.