Rochdale goalkeeping duo Sam Russell and James Spencer are expected to be passed fit for the start of the 2008/09 campaign.

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Russell (broken finger) and Spencer (hernia) were reduced to the sidelines for the latter stages of Dale's promotion push last term and Tommy Lee was signed on loan from Macclesfield to deputise between the posts.

However, the pair are edging loser to full fitness and should both be in contention for a starting berth when Keith Hill's men begin their campaign at Grimsby on August 9.

Dale physio Andy Thorpe said: "With James we found, after his hernia operation, that he also had a stress fracture in the area of his hip.

"But with the rest that he had in the last few weeks there should be no problem at all with him or indeed with Sam, whose finger is now fully healed."