MARK Wright's Chester City re-union will be the last thing on Keith Curle's mind when he leads his new-look team into battle at Peterborough United tomorrow.

Blues boss Curle is eager to play down the significance of his personal duel with Posh manager Wright, who controversially walked out on City on the eve of last season's League Two kick-off.

It will be the first time Wright has come face to face with his old club since his shock departure last August, but there is no room for sentiment in Curle's thinking.

'People keep saying to me that it's going to be a difficult opener for us because Mark Wright's going to be right up for the game because it's against his old club,' said the Chester boss.

'How about the fact it's going to be difficult for Mark Wright because I'm up for this game?

'I've got a dressing room full of players who will be up for the game, too.'

Wright, meanwhile, insists he will treat the match just like any other.

He said: 'It's a game I'm obviously very keen to win, but no more than I am keen to win any other game.

'I had great times at Chester and I still have many friends there, so I certainly hope they have a decent season themselves.

'If they want to build the match up into something special then that's up to them, but all the hype is nonsense really.'

Wright steered the Blues back into the Football League last year but sensation-ally quit the day before City's League Two opener at Notts County.

The former England defender, who took his backroom staff with him, claimed his exit was for 'totally footballing reasons' after Blues chairman Stephen Vaughan said it was for 'a non-football-related matter'.

Wright was replaced at Chester by Ian Rush, but the Liverpool legend lasted less than a season and was succeeded by Curle for the final game of the 2004-05 campaign.

Having spent the summer wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, Curle is now ready to unleash his new-look City side on the Posh.

'I can't wait for the season to start,' he said. 'I'd have started two weeks into May if it was down to me.

'I think I've got a squad of players who are capable of finishing in the top 10.

'I'm here to work hard for the fans and serve up entertaining, winning, attractive football.'

Chester will be without Abdou El Kholti tomorrow as the left-sided player serves a one-match ban.

Defender Sean Hessey is ruled out by a suspension carried over from last season while centre-back Dave Artell and winger Craig Dove are not match-fit due to injury setbacks picked up in pre-season.

The Blues will add goalkeeper Matt Duke to their squad if they succeed in their bid to secure the former Burton Albion stopper on a month's loan from Hull City.

* City's proposed loan move for Sheffield United's England youth international winger Jonathan Forte has been scuppered. Forte is thought to be on the verge of joining an unnamed League One club.

* Chester have appointed sports business consultant Darren Shelton as their new chief executive in succession to Dave Burford, who resigned last month.

* Chester's first home League Two match of the season is on Tuesday, when Lincoln City visit the Saunders Honda Stadium (7.45pm).