The waiting is nearly over.  Soon the hopes and dreams of the pre-season campaign will turn into the reality of the battle for points as managers up and down the country discover whether their summer rebuilding has solid foundations.

So who will be the teams to watch, and who will see a long history of League membership flushed away by nine months of misery?  AbbeyBet is in no doubt, quoting Hull City at 7/2 to win the division outright, while Macclesfield are 4/1 favourites for the drop.  But what do they know?

Here at www.cambridgeunited.com an anonymous volunteer has been persuaded to throw the traditional wild guesswork into the mix with a couple of minutes research and, after a couple of hours cooking at gas mark 8 in the portakabins, come up with the following delicacy:

Boston United: After a shaky start due, in no small part, to a four-point deduction, the Pilgrims found their feet in the League and finished last season strongly.  The addition of former Norwich man Daryl Sutch and Graham Potter (right) from York will bolster the defence, and a tilt at the play-offs is not out of the question.

Prediction: Post-season action for the York Street boys

Bristol Rovers: Only a late rally, and some dodgy form from others in the relegation dogfight, prevented last season marking the end of the Pirates' 83-year membership of the Football League.  A summer of squad strengthening and Rovers' massive support should prevent a recurrence of last season's struggle.

Prediction:  Upper mid-table

Bury: The Shakers certainly lived up to their nickname last season, surprising most people by finishing in the play-offs after beginning the campaign in a financial quagmire.  On paper, this season bodes well - pre-season hasn't gone badly, with six wins from six and no goals conceded, although some of the of the opposition was not exactly top drawer - and dangerous winger Harpal Singh has rejoined the club for the first month of the campaign.  If they can get off to a decent start, they should hover around the play-off zone again.

Prediction: Just outside the play-offs

Cambridge United: New signings Mark Venus, Justin Walker (left) and Stuart Bimson look promising, but the pre-season results less so.  AbbeyBet's odds of 22/1 for the title and 9/2 for promotion suggest a little fence sitting, but given the tricky run of fixtures at either end of the campaign, perhaps that approach is the right one!

Prediction: Another flirtation with the play-offs

Carlisle: The Cumbrians' recent trend of giving their supporters a collective nervous breakdown continued last season with a finish just one point clear of the drop.  Like Bristol Rovers, Carlisle are a club with a potentially massive home support and, like Bristol Rovers, that can sometimes be a double-edged sword with the weight of expectation a little too much to bear.  After making numerous signings during last season, Roddy Collins has now had time for his side to bed in and, given a little patience, they could be a surprise package.

Prediction: Mid-table anonymity

Cheltenham: The Robins will be looking to bounce back after relegation last season, but they will have to do so without last season's strike-force of Tony Naylor and Julian Alsop.  Naylor failed to agree a new contract, while Alsop has joined Oxford United on a 'Bosman' and the key to this season is whether their goals can be replaced.

Prediction: Squeezing into the play-offs.

Darlington: The Quakers are poised to move into the new Reynolds Arena, but the biggest question is whether they can find the team to match the surroundings.  It wasn't until late in the season when Darlo fans could stop glancing nervously over their shoulders at the drop zone, and there is nothing to suggest that this year will be any different.

Prediction: Lower-mid table

Doncaster: Back in the League after a five-year exile, Rovers will be looking to build on the momentum that made them the first team promoted to the League via the play-offs.  Manager Trevor Penny has strengthen his squad with the addition of Michael McIndoe from Yeovil and Leo Fortune-West so provided the don't suffer a recurrence of their last season in the League, during which they conceded 118 goals, a quick return to the Conference does not look likely.

Prediction: mid-table

Huddersfield: Appointed in June of this year, Manager Peter Jackson has had a major rebuilding job in his hands.  Ten players were released over the summer and ten new ones have come in, but the playing side of the club has not been the most traumatic area.  Financial problems have been rife, with administration, potential new owners and industrial action by the players have all made for a nervous summer at the McAlpine.  However, the Football League has just approved a take over of the club, lifting some of the gloom.  The key to the on-field action will be how quickly the new team can get to know each other.

Prediction: Play-offs

Hull: The perennial sleeping giants have yet to find the blend of players to grace the mightily impressive KC Stadium, and the pressure will be on boss Peter Taylor if they aren't quickly in and around the business end of the division.  Unsurprisingly, the high-profile Division Three summer signings have moved to the Yorkshire coast and the additions of striker Danny Allsopp and midfielder Jason Price might just prove to be the vital spark.

Prediction:  Play-offs

The Pressure's On Hull City's Peter Taylor

Kidderminster:  After looking good for promotion in February, Harriers fell away badly to an 11th place finish and much will depend this season on whether they can get that disappointing run out of their system.  There is nothing in the summer signings to suggest that this season will be much different to last.

Prediction: mid-table

Leyton Orient: 2002/03 was a forgettable one at the bottom of the M11.  Expected to challenge for promotion, Orient supporters were instead forced to watch the other end of the table as their side became embroiled in a battle to stay in the League.  Although they have been strengthened by the free signings of former Peterborough striker Marcus Ebdon and ex-U's loanee Tom Newey (right), this could be another season to test the patience of chairman Barry Hearn.

Prediction: Just above the drop zone.

Lincoln:  The surprise package of last season, Keith Alexander has been content to leave his squad relatively unchanged with the only move of note being Stuart Bimson's defection to us.  Never pretty to watch, could this be the season where Lincoln's 'direct' style unravels?

Prediction:  Another surprise season from the Red Imps - for a very different reason!  Relegation beckons.

Macclesfield: The Silkmen's main problem has always been one of location.  With so many 'bigger' clubs in the area, last season's average gate of 2,110 was something of an achievement, given a year in which they only pulled themselves clear of danger in the final fortnight.  The addition of Martin Carruthers and Colin Little will offset the departure of Kyle Lightbourne, but it could be another season of strife for the Silkmen.

Prediction:  The end of a six-year sojourn in the League

Mansfield:  The Stags have kept faith the majority of the squad who were relegated last season after conceding goals for fun, and there is nothing to suggest a quick return to Division Two.

Prediction: Just outside the play-offs

Northampton:  After finishing bottom last season, eleven points adrift of the next placed team, new owners have given Martin Wilkinson some cash to splash around.  In have come Josh Low from Oldham (£165,000), Peter Clark from Stockport (£100,000), Paul Reid from Rangers (£100,000) and no fewer than nine free transfers, while a dozen have moved out of Sixfields.  With more money apparently still in the pot, a rapid return must be on the cards.

Prediction: Promotion

Oxford: Ian Atkins men spent almost the entirety of last season 'there or thereabouts', but finished a point outside the play-offs.  Although they didn't score too many goals, they were miserly in defence and, as such, have a good springboard for the coming campaign.  Julian Alsop (ex-Cheltenham) and Mark Rawle (ex-Southend) may provide the cutting edge they lacked last time round, while midfield will welcome the fist-clenching bullishness of Paul Wanless (left).

Prediction: A top three finish for Atkins' men

Rochdale:  Last season's FA Cup heroics rather put the kybosh on their League campaign and they stuttered and stumbled to a 19th place finish. Although six have come in on frees, they could miss the experience of David Flitcroft and Paul Simpson who have joined Macclesfield and Carlisle respectively.

Prediction: Another struggle, but eventual safety

Scunthorpe: The Iron have built steadily since they were relegated in 2000, and last season's play-offs were reward for a board who stuck with Brian Laws through that millennium disappointment.  The squad has remained relatively stable over the summer and another decent season looks on the cards.

Prediction: A return to the play-off zone

Southend:  Few clubs have seen such a dramatic turnover of playing staff as Southend.  With 12 new faces coming in and 14 old ones going out, Manager Steve Wignall is looking to put his own stamp on a club he took over in April.  Whether he can have the desired effect on a team who drew only three games last season remains to be seen and a finish slightly higher than last year's 17th place looks achievable.

Prediction: Mid table

Swansea: The Swans only escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last time around, and boss Brian Flynn has reacted by judiciously pruning his squad.  Leon Brittan, who impressed when on loan from West Ham, has now joined on a permanent basis, and the goals of Lee Trundle, a free transfer from Wrexham, could be key to avoiding another nervous year in South Wales.

Prediction:  Lower mid-table

Torquay: After looking a good bet for at least the play-offs until they fell away badly at the end of the season, Leroy Rosenior's has enjoyed a quiet summer; signing Craig Taylor from Plymouth and releasing Paul Holmes.  We will discover soon enough whether more drastic action was called for after ending the last campaign with just two wins from their last 13 outings.

Prediction:  Another season just outside the play-offs

How Close Will Leroy Ronsenior Get To The Play-Offs?

Yeovil: The Glovers won the Conference at a canter last season and have the fan base to establish themselves as a solid Football League outfit.  Former U's boss Gary Johnson has only added a couple of new faces to the squad, but then again, a side that chalked up 95 points, 100 goals and just three defeats was never going to need a radical facelift!

Prediction: Promotion again

York: Crisis club York exceeded all expectations by finishing in 10th place, despite the ever-present threat of a financial meltdown at any second.  Terry Dolan's reward for steering them through the troubled seas was the sack, and new boss Chris Brass will have to find his managerial feet quickly to prevent Dolan's hard work coming to nought.

Prediction:  A difficult season for the Minstermen, ending in the lower half of the table