Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson is ready to embrace the grind of the Championship when his side return to the second-tier for the first time in 43 years on Saturday.

Three consecutive promotions have taken Wrexham from the National League to an opening day fixture away at Southampton -- a side relegated from the Premier League last season -- and a return to a division Parkinson knows well from spells with Bolton Wanderers , Charlton Athletic and Hull City .

"I think it's a great league," Parkinson said. "Every game feels like a real big match atmosphere."

While some fans have been dreaming that Wrexham can make it four promotions in a row there is the danger that after such a rapid rise that they find their ceiling -- with the jump from League One to the Championship seen as bigger

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