The Australian defender is in line to represent his country at the Olympics in China when the domestic season gets underway on Saturday, August 9.

Downes was a key member of the Australia U23 squad which reached the final of the inaugural Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia, where they lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the final.

He completed a full 90-minute shift in the final and also scored one of the goals in the 4-0 win over Togo during the group stages.

Australia's opening match in the Olympics is against Serbia on August 7. Also in their qualifying group are Argentina and Ivory Coast.

Their opening two games are in Shanghai and the final group game sees them travel to Tianjin. The final is scheduled to take place in Beijing on August 23.

The U23s will form the basis of the squad selected for Beijing which is expected to be named next month.

The Football League fixtures for 2008-09 are due to be announced on June 16.

The Spireites will welcome Premiership new boys Hull City to Saltergate for a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, July 22, as well as Championship neighbours Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, July 29 in the lead-up to the new season.

The Tigers beat Bristol City in the play-off final at Wembley to ensure they play in England's top tier for the first time in their 104-year history.

Sheffield Wednesday provide the opposition for the only other pre-season friendly at home.

There will also be four away games, which include a trip to Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday, July 19 (ko 3pm), the annual visit to Matlock Town on Friday, July 25 (ko 7.45pm), the first-ever visit to the Pirelli Stadium to play Nigel Clough's Burton Albion on Saturday, August 2 (ko 3pm) and a short trip to Dronfield to play the world's oldest football club, Sheffield FC, on Monday, August 4 (ko 7.30pm).