FOXBORO - Quick-fingered dialers or typists will get the ultimate test of their skills this morning at 9 o'clock, when the New England Patriots will put a limited number of single-game tickets on sale through the Ticketmaster service.

The tickets, usually about 2,000-3,000 per game, are likely to be gone in a flash. The Patriots annually cap their season-ticket sales well short of the 60,000 mark (not counting premium seating) to allow more fans a chance to purchase tickets to individual games. To facilitate the single-game sale, however, the Patriots annually establish limits for the number of tickets that can be bought by an individual.

This year, the limit has been set at eight regular-season tickets per person, with no more than four tickets to any one game.

All ticket orders will be processed through Ticketmaster, either by telephone or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will not be sold at the Gillette Stadium ticket office. Once again, all phone and online orders must be made exclusively with a Visa credit or debit card because of the promotional deal that the credit card has with the NFL.

Ticketmaster phone numbers vary by area code, so those calling by telephone should check directory assistance before dialing. In the greater Boston area, fans are being encouraged to call 617-931-2222. Fans seeking wheelchair-accessible seating should call 508-384-9191.

If the Patriots are successful in selling out the secret stash in a matter of minutes, as has been the case in the past, it will mark the 15th straight year that they will be able to announce a complete sellout prior to the start of the regular season. The Patriots' streak of consecutive sellouts (including preseason, regular season and playoff games) is currently 149 games and began in 1994, the year that Robert Kraft purchased the franchise.

Their season-ticket waiting list remains in excess of 50,000 fans, according to a press release by the team.

-MARK FARINELLA