THE best of mates will become the fiercest of rivals when Wanderers kick off their Premiership campaign at Filbert Street.

In the white corner - Gudni Bergsson, the veteran Wanderers' captain hoping to lead a successful survival mission; in the blue corner, his fellow Icelander and one-time team-mate at the Reebok - Arnar Gunnlaugsson.

Eighteen months they played together after Gunnlaugsson joined Wanderers from Akranes. Then, in February 1999, a £2million deal took him to Leicester and a place in the top flight.

Tomorrow they will be on opposite sides, fighting for Premiership points, but Gunnlaugsson has only fond memories of their time together and the club which gave him his big break in England.

"Gundi Bergsson is one of my best friends in football," Arnie explains, "and I am looking forward to seeing him here.

"He was due to go back into a career as a lawyer at the end of last season. But the temptation to come to the Premiership was too great, which was great news for Bolton. He was also captain when the side got relegated and I know that he wants to erase that memory.

"Bolton are a good club and I really enjoyed my time there. They have a good mixture of young and experienced players and I hope that they stay up - which has to be their aim at the start of the season."

Gunnlaugsson has also enjoyed his first injury free pre-season since going to Filbert Street, and now targets a first team midfield place as his aim for the coming term.

He added: "I definitely want to play in the midfield now. I was actually bought by Martin O'Neill as a midfielder but you need different fitness levels to play in that area of the park. In recent years that hasn't been the case with me but now I am back to my best I really want to have a crack at playing in my favourite position with Leicester City.

"I have had the super sub tag for the last couple of years now and I think it is time that I got rid of that."