COLIN Todd has told his players there are still places to be secured ahead of the Nationwide League opener at Port Vale.

The Burnden boss, who has seen his promotion hopefuls produce flashes of Premiership class in their last two warm-up games, already has his first Xl in mind.

But he issued a warning today that nothing is cast in tablets of stone.

Todd saw Sasa Curcic inspire a 1-0 win at Rotherham last night with a superb second half show after a worrying first half performance.

But he refused to allow the Serb's exciting attacking display to gloss over the deficiencies.

Wanderers have only one more pre-season game to go - at Carlisle on Saturday - before they kick off at Vale Park, but Todd admits: "There is still a long way to go.

"I have a fair idea what my side is going to be, injuries permitting, but there are still certain positions that need to be looked at."

Biggest worry is the failure of his players to raise the tempo of their attacks and the vulnerability of the defence to counter-attacks.

But Wanderers, who stumbled with a 1-0 defeat at Hull, have shown a marked improvement in successive friendlies, drawing at Wrexham and beating York and Rotherham.

They will hope to have a number of players returning after injury for the trip to Carlisle. John McGinlay missed the Millmoor game as a slight precaution, Nathan Blake was given compassionate leave because of a family bereavement and Chris Fairclough was rested.

Blake is expected to play in a reserve-level friendly at Morecambe tonight.

With Mixu Paatelainen ruled out for at least a month, Fabian de Freitas was given his first senior pre-season outing at Millmoor only to be substituted after 55 minutes.

The Dutchman, who has been linked with a move to French club Bordeaux, is on Blackpool's wanted list. The Seasiders are understood to be preparing a revised bid after failing in an earlier effort to match Wanderers' valuation of the player signed for £400,000 from Volendam two years ago.

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