Bruno Berner will fill the gap left by the soon-to-depart Joe Mattock for Leicester City's Championship opener against Swansea at the Walkers Stadium today (3pm).

The 31-year-old Swiss international talked about Mattock before City manager Nigel Pearson revealed that the England under-19 star had handed in a transfer request and is poised for a £2m switch to Championship rivals West Brom.

Berner said: "Joe is a big talent and I think it is normal that bigger clubs will come to try to catch him – but that's business."

Berner played at left-back during City's pre-season campaign while Mattock was involved with England at the European Championships in the Ukraine.

He said: "It looks like I will start at left-back and I have done all my pre-season in the position.

"When I signed for Leicester I told the manager that wherever he needs me I will put in my best performance."

Berner says the Championship campaign also represents a major challenge for him 11 months into his City career.

The former Blackburn defender spent nearly a year out of the game with a knee injury and was given a second chance by Pearson after initially failing a medical at the Walkers Stadium.

He said: "We have prepared for six weeks and the only goal is to play in the first game.

"It is important for the club and important for me.

"I have to convince the manager that, by picking me, he has made the right choice."

Berner says City's target this season is to be "in and around the play-offs".

He said: "Last season it was crazy in the Championship with everyone beating everyone else.

"We have to show consistency in every game and then we have a big chance of playing an important part in the promotion race.

"It was a very efficient pre-season and now we are ready. Our last league game was three months ago so we are all excited that it starts again today."

With Berner starting at left-back against the Swans, Pearson is set to choose between teenager Luke O'Neill and the more experienced Michael Morrison to fill in at right-back in place of the suspended Robbie Neilson.

Bulgarian international Aleksandar Tunchev was not involved in last weekend's 1-0 win over Spanish club Real Valladolid and may have to be content with a spot on the bench as he continues his rehabilitation after a cruciate ligament injury.

Pearson says skipper Matt Oakley has recovered from the knee knock he picked up against Valladolid and was also pleased with striker Matty Fryatt's work in training following his goalscoring return against the Spanish club.

Both are available, with Pearson left to consider whether to start with Fryatt or use him as an impact substitute and put Dany N'Guessan up front alongside Steve Howard.