UNDERPERFORMING Wanderers players are running out of chances to nail down a regular first team slot, manager Gary Waddock has warned.

Injuries and players losing form has led to Waddock changing the side around and bringing in new faces on loan in a bid to find a winning formula.

And Waddock has warned whoever he picks to face Preston tomorrow has to make the most of their opportunity or face the axe.

The Blues boss said: "You always look for a reaction if you've had a defeat and it's important the players turn up this week.

"They have to make an impression, whatever the starting eleven will be. They have to make sure they take the opportunity that's given to them. It's a case of everyone sticking together, everybody rolling their sleeves up and having a go, and putting a lot of work and fight into the performance on Saturday."

Waddock has called for his players to translate their hard work on the training ground into a positive performance at Deepdale as Blues look to bounce back from their humiliating 6-0 loss against Huddersfield.

He said: "I can look back over the course of the season and tell you how good they've been on the training ground. That counts but it only counts on a matchday. When they cross that white line they have to perform and produce a performance - we never did that last Friday."

Managerless Preston have won just two of their last fifteen matches and are still hoping to hand the reins to Stevenage boss Graham Westley - a man Waddock says deserves his chance to manage a big club, having led Borough to the League One play-off places just two seasons after playing non-league football.

He said: "If it's Graham, it'll be nice to see him again. He's his own man, if he feels it's the right time to move on, I'm sure he'll mkae that decision. He's done a fantastic job at Stevenage and he's got to make a big decision whether to go up to Preston or not."