As the race for the Premiership enters its final furlong and as we approach one of the most fascinating hurdles this coming weekend in what is seemingly now a three horse race, here at Football FanCast.com we are compiling a Premiership Select XI for the current campaign. We don't do things backwards here, so it's the number one shirt first up.

The ever debatable discussion of whether the Premier League boasts the finest players in the world continues to dominate many of English football's burning issues. Rarely within such discussion however do we hear the names of the footballers that can often be the focal point of many teams, the man whose performance has a direct effect on the confidence of his team-mates, the man who can be the first link between defence and attack - namely, the man between the sticks.

As you watch ‘goal of the month' you have to wonder whether the spectacular and sometimes astounding saves from our Premier League goalkeepers would merit more recognition than the ‘deflected off the elbow' finish that registers at number nine in the charts. But which goalkeeper deserves the most recognition? Which man could be the sole content of an ‘astonishing saves' DVD likely to rival DFS. Or, putting it simply, which goalkeeper is currently the Premiership's finest?

Although it is agreed that the following are not called into action as frequently as many of their Premier League counterparts, I feel you do not have to look past the Premiership's top four clubs to establish the top trio of safe hands.

Petr Cech

A phenomenal goalkeeper, the only word I feel that can do the man justice. Stands at 1.96m, and uses every inch to his outstanding ability. Prevented from appearing in eight of Chelsea's 29 league games this term, Cech's qualities have perhaps not been accentuated to the same degree as his performances in previous  - notably during Chelsea's consecutive title winning seasons.

Forgetting the metaphors regarding goalkeepers and wine; at a tender age of 25, Cech will no doubt continue to develop as one of the world's most gifted green-jerseyed player. Indeed, the Chelsea goalkeeper was only 2nd to a man five years his senior in the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Best Goalkeeper of the Year Award for 2007 - Gianluigi Buffon. A man that is a further seven years the senior of the Czech international, is another man in contention for the title in discussion.

Edwin Van der Sar

Whilst the partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic has received deserved recognition when reflecting on the mere fifteen goals that have bulged the Manchester United net this Premier League season, the prowess of the Dutch international that provides the Champion's last line of defence should not be overlooked.

Eyebrows were raised when the ex-Ajax and Juventus goalkeeper made a summer from Fulham to Old Trafford in 2005, but the 37 year-old has proved his worth under the managership of Sir Alex and direction of retired coach Tony Coton. Standing at one millimetre above his Chelsea counterpart, the Dutch captain offers a unique presence behind United's back four, and combined with his agility and positional technique, his shot-stopping abilities are difficult to be rivalled with.

Pepe Reina

If we were to judge a goalkeeper solely on the ability to save a penalty, Jose Manuel Reina would (excuse the pun) reign supreme. The Liverpool goalkeeper has placed himself between the sticks on 30 occasions to date in this season's Premier League, and during which has replaced Ray Clemence as the quickest Liverpool player to notch 50 clean sheets, doing so in a rather impressive 92 outings.

Reina is another man that, in goalkeeping terms, is well before his peak, also currently just 25 years of age. Though perhaps not reaching the heights of his goalkeeping father, Miguel Reina Santos, the talents of the Liverpool number one will undoubtedly have been appreciated by Mr Benitez in this current campaign. Inspirational in this season's Champions League progress, and that of last, the agility and bounce that the Spaniard possesses define the goalkeeping style of the ex-Barcelona man.

Three teams, six hands; three of the Premiership's finest. The question of which goalkeeper should be wearing the first jersey that is placed on the dressing room pegs, remains.

• Win an i-Pod Touch- Just answer 6 simple questions
• FREE ENGLAND HOME SHIRT - simply purchase any 2008/10 England Away Shirt and get the 2008/09 England Home Shirt in the same size range absolutely FREE!