The North End boss was beset by injuries last season, with eight players either missing the entire campaign or large chunks of it.
Preston still made the play-offs, but Irvine is hoping for better luck on the injury front as he attempts to take his side one step further in 2009/10.
"I do hope to have more players available then I did at times last season," Irvine told the Lancashire Evening Post.
"I didn't think the problem was not having a big enough squad in the first place, it was that we had so many long-term injuries. We had eight players who missed either all the season or huge parts of it, and with having a tight-knit squad, we couldn't cope.
"That was where the problem arose. If everyone had been fit, there would have been good competition for every position - eight defenders, eight midfielders, four forwards and three goalkeepers - but it didn't work out that way."
Source: Team_Talk