Mark Little is bracing himself for what must have seemed like The Impossible Job last season - ousting Kevin Foley from Wolves' first team.

The performance of Foley at right back after his early-seasong move from Luton rarely dipped below the ultra-consistent, leaving Mark unable to build on a breakthrough 2006/07 campaign in which he had made 31 first team appearances.

As a result he spent the final three months of last season on loan at Northampton - to successful effect - under the guidance of former Wolves assistant Stuart Gray.

Back in situe at Molineux this summer nothing has changed in terms of the stiffness of the task faced in trying to dislodge Kevin from the Wolves defence.

But Worcester-born Mark is not shirking the challenge and has already caught the eye in the friendlies thus far.

"Pre-season from my point of view is the same as every game that I play," explains the England under-19 international.

"It's just a case of trying to play to the best of your ability whether your manager's watching or not.

"It's the same position for me as this time last year and I've just got to try and do better than Kev Foley if I'm going to get in the team.

"The gaffer has told me he wants me to be here fighting for my place and that's all I can do, try and put a bit of pressure on Kev.

"It's difficult to say because he's also a good mate but it's just a case of if anything happens to Kev, or he loses a bit of form, I have to be ready for my chance.

"I feel I've proved myself in the Championship before and that probably makes it a bit more frustrating at the moment.

"After all the games I've played I feel I can play at this level but obviously Kev did really well last season.

"The more games you play the more you improve so I just need to do what I can when I'm given a chance on the pitch."

Despite his relatively tender years this is Mark's third consecutive pre-season tour with Wolves, having also been in the parties for Spain and Ireland.

He admits the week away plays an important part not only in team bonding but in continuing to crank up fitness levels ahead of the big kick off.

"It's good to get away with the boys for a week because it helps get everyone together," he says.

"I was in Ireland last year and it was like an intense training camp - it's a good chance to get a lot of work done as well as improve team spirit.

"It can be hard but it's also enjoyable.

"It won't be an easy trip either in terms of the games.

"A lot of teams tend to just play lower league teams during pre-season but as well as that we've got these Scottish teams - Motherwell and Kilmarnock are both in the top division - and Blackburn.

"It's a bit like the Championship in that respect in terms of there being no easy games.

"I'm enjoying the friendlies and feel I'm doing o-k.

"Obviously it's hard work and we've all been blowing a bit in the games but that's what Scotland's about really and once we get back we should all be ready for 90 minutes.

"I certainly feel fit and ready."

Despite being one of the youngest members of the 23 players north of the border, Mark insists he feels very much at home within the squad.

And it's far cry from the events in Spain two years ago when the group of younger lads took a few pranks on the experienced contingent too far and ended up returning home with considerably shorter hairstyles than they had travelled out with.

"I'm probably one of the youngest lads on tour but that's been the case now for these last  three years," he adds.

"There was a few of us out in Spain where we got a bit of a lesson off the older players but it was all a bit different in Ireland last year.

"Back in Spain we were definitely the young players and there were big senior players who we really had to respect.

"If we stepped in the wrong place we soon got told!

"But now, because I've been in and around the first team a fair bit and so have the likes of Mark Davies and 'DJ' (Daniel Jones) it's not the same feeling.

"I don't feel nervous around anyone in the dressing room as maybe I would have done before.

"As to any spare time while we're here we've got the Playstations so we'll be on there or having a game of cards or whatever, just the usual stuff."