Wanderers didn't need the bookies to tell them they will be the underdogs in the Premiership.

They are under no illusions down at the Reebok. They are in for a rough ride -- but at least they know it and they have players who have been there ... and survived, year in, year out. Simon Charlton and Mike Whitlow know the score. Respectively, they have helped Southampton and Leicester become fixtures and fittings in the top flight, perennial survivors. And they see no reason why Wanderers, whatever the relegation odds being quoted, cannot follow suit.

Charlton, who made more than 100 Premiership appearances for the Saints, reckons: "At Southampton we were always just above the trapdoor for the majority of the season ... and I don't think anyone here is under any illusions about how hard next season is going to be.

"But, on the other hand, when you look at Charlton and Ipswich, maybe they've opened the door for the smaller clubs or the ones who aren't favourites to stay up, to do very well.

"Before, teams have gone up thinking they are going to come straight back down but what they achieved last year has shown that the small clubs can survive and do very well in the Premiership."

Under Martin O'Neill's guidance, Leicester did not only surivive, they actually managed to establish themselves as a force in the Premiership and Whitlow played a key role before joining Wanderers in September 1997.

Now club captain at the Reebok, he also draws encouragement from the experiences of the so-called "small fry".

"We went up and went back down in consecutive years," he recalls of the Leicester days which followed a similar route to that which Wanderers have taken over recent years.

"But, when we went back up, Martin O'Neill did a great job. He brought in one or two great players - Neil Lennon, who's gone on to Celtic, and Matt Elliott, who's still there and been excellent -- and, yes, they've established themselves.

"The first year, they always say, is the hardest so all credit to Ipswich last year they were fantastic. Charlton did the same so it gives us a lot of encouragement.

"The gaffer has done fantastic here in two years to get us where we've got and, fingers crossed, we can stay in the Premiership.

"But it is going to be a lot of hard work and sometimes, against the Arsenals, Man Uniteds and Liverpools, you have no illusions about how hard you've got to work to get something.

"It's going to be a tough season but we know what's ahead and, let's be fair, we all wanted to get there and we want to stay there."

Wanderers might not have the big name players to match the big-hitters but what they lack in quality terms, they believe they more than make up for in spirit.

Charlton and Whitlow -- both popular characters in the Reebok dressing room and good mates, despite being rivals for the number three shirt -- believe that will be a key ingredient once the fun starts. "I think character and team spirit was one of the major reasons why we did so well last season," Charlton maintains. "We've both been around and I think the spirit in this camp at Bolton is second to none -- besides having some very experenced and very skilful players."

Both know full well, however, that team spirit alone will not be enough to put points on the table and unless Wanderers tighten up, discipline themselves and cut the errors down to a minimum, they will face an uphill battle.

"When you get to this level you have to learn to keep the ball for long periods of time," Charlton warns.

"When you do get the ball against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United, you have to keep the ball. You can't give it away cheaply because you'll get punished and punished severely."

"And mistakes." Whitlow interjects.

"And mistakes! Centre forwards only need one or two chances at this level."

Charlton goes on: "We all know that individual mistakes counted for a lot of the goals we gave away, particularly mid-season, giving dodgy back passes which were getting intercepted.

"The first thing we've got to do is cut any of that out because you'll be getting beat three and four-nil if you're not careful. It's very quick, it's very skilful but we know what we've got to acquit ourselves against."