Jonas Olsson on the race for places

Albion vice-captain Jonas Olsson believes the race for centre-back places is wide open just four days before the Premier League kick-off at Chelsea.

The Swede is vying with summer signing Pablo Ibanez and Romania international Gabriel Tamas for two places at the heart of defence for the start of the season.

And Olsson believes all three men, who were used in various combinations throughout pre-season, are still in the frame to figure at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I think there are a few spots in the team that the gaffer hasn't decided about and you will have to ask him what his plans are.

"But competition is good. It drives you and keeps you going. I am going to give it my best and I'm sure Gabi and Pablo will do the same to make the gaffer pick them.

"We will see what happens. You can only give it your best and see how far that goes. I'm sure it will be a nice job for the gaffer to have players to pick one. I'm sure he would be more worried if it was the other way.

"That's what competition does. You have a squad of 20 or 25 players and only 11 can play. That's the way it goes.Let's see who is picked for Saturday.

"He will pick the side he thinks can perform best against Chelsea."

Olsson will spend the week preparing for the Chelsea match at the Baggies training ground, after being left out of the Sweden squad for tomorrow's friendly with Scotland in Stockholm.

The 27-year-old admitted he had mixed feelings about his omission from the international action.

He said: "I would like to be with the Swedish team but I think you prepare better if you're here because you don't have to travel.

"In that way I think I will be better prepared for the Chelsea game. I spoke to the Swedish coach and he picked a smaller selection this time. He only went with three centre-halves, whereas last time he went with four.

"They dropped one and I was the one, which is a bit disappointing, but I just have to keep myself going and keep performing at a high level to get back into the squad."

Olsson is now just days away from his second season in the Premier League and reckons the Baggies will be inspired by the challenge ahead after a promising pre-season campaign.

He said: "We are just inspired to go up against those players. That is ultimately why you commit yourself in training every day and last season we were aware that if we performed well we would be at these places every year.

"Now here we are and we are really looking forward to it and preparing to give it our best shot.

"I think we showed in the second half against Coventry and on Saturday that we are well prepared and well 'up for it.'

"We have maybe had more time than Chelsea to prepare for it, because they have had a lot of players away at the World Cup.

"In that way we are better prepared."