With the final league fixture of the season on the horizon this Sunday and the status quo comfortably secured for 2008/09, thoughts are inevitably turning to the future, and hopes are high for a season of great success for all connected with events at Deepdale.

One man who's had more reason than most to cherish the season we're about to say goodbye to is Callum Davidson, the man who has enjoyed his most prolific Preston North End season in terms of game time, converted penalties and long-range screamers.

PNE.com caught up with him at Springfields to find out how he'll be preparing for next season, and he seemed to be in a typically chirpy 'end of term' mood...

At the end of a long, hard season, are you pleased that a rest is coming or would you rather the campaign carried on a little longer?

"Probably this season I'd say it's a delight to be safe and I'm looking forward to next season now to be honest. We've worked hard all season, and I think the focus is looking forward to next season - I know that's where my attentions are turning to now.

"This time next year I'd like to be looking to the Play-Offs rather than thinking about relegation."

This season must have been a pleasing one for you, given the sheer number of games you've been able to play.

"Yeah I'm pleased with myself in that sense, and it's also down to a lot of people. The three physios that have been here have played a big part in it, and I'm just so pleased that this year I've been able to show the Preston people what I can do.

"I hope I can continue that next season and continue to play well."

The overall confidence in the squad seems to be very good at the moment - I guess you're all hoping that can carry over into the pre-season campaign?

"Yes definitely. I think it's going to be a really difficult pre-season - the manager made a little joke about it on Wednesday night but I think we got the impression that we're going to be working really hard. It's always hard in pre-season, but I think this one could be even harder.

"We've got a great bunch of guys here and we're all focussed, and I can imagine we'll be adding one or two more faces for next season, so I can imagine there will be even more competition for places. It's going to be tough again next season but I'm looking forward to it."

Has the gaffer set you targets already for next season, or is that something you'll discuss when you come back in the summer?

"I think it's something we'll talk about in the summer. I think each individual will be setting himself a target in the summer, and then we'll discuss our overall plans with the manager.

"I think we definitely want to be looking at the top half of the table, and anything after that is a bonus. That's what we've done under the last couple of managers, and it's worked for us.

"I don't think we can come out and say 'we're going to be in the top two' because there's a lot of clubs in this division with a lot of money, but if we set ourselves a target of top/upper table then that's well within this group of players."

Now that the close season is on its way, are you going to be keeping yourself active, or do you go for as much rest as physically possible?

"I think, scientifically, they say it's 21 days that you can go without exercise before you start to lose your muscle tone, so I'm going to give myself 20 days off!

"After that I'll be getting back into it. When I first started, you could do what you wanted all summer, and coming back for pre-season was all about getting yourself fit again, but in modern day football, you've got to come back fit and ready to go.

"It's a long close season this year - certainly the longest I've had for a long time. I think most of the lads will take all of May off, and then get back into training routines from the start of June."

Once the Bristol City game is out of the way, do you come back in for any more training, or is that it - the 'end of term'?

"More training? No way! After the whistle blows on Sunday, that's it - finito!

"We'll come back in on Tuesday and sit down with the manager to discuss a few things. I know some managers like to do group discussions, whereas others like to do it individually.

"We'll be given our programmes telling us how to maintain our fitness during the close season, and we'll also be told whether we've done well or done rubbish and move on from there!"

Before you can do that, you've got one final game at Ashton Gate, and one that doesn't have quite as much riding on it for either side as we might have expected a month or so ago.

"Yeah it's one of those funny ones. This league's quite good, in that you hardly ever get games that don't have any meaning to them. Fortunately or unfortunately for us, this game doesn't have anything riding on it.

"Bristol City have been excellent all season - they've been one of the surprise teams of the division, but they've just fallen away a little at the end. All credit to them for what they've done this year - they've given themselves a good platform and should give themselves a pat on the back."

After all the emotions of the season, it'll be nice to end it all in front of a sell out crowd this weekend.

"Yes it will be a nice event. Hopefully it won't be too hot though, as I can't deal with the hot weather. I'd like it to maybe be raining, or cold and windy - that'd be nice for me!"

Come rain or shine, we'll be at Ashton Gate for full coverage of the season finale via Whites World. Sign up today from as little as £3.99 and login to the only place you can hear live commentary of every PNE first team fixture.