changing background image on text hyperlink

[TruthInSatire]

I have a menu bar with a horazontal fade. what I would like to do is darken the gradient on hover.

I have done it ok but the problem is the image has to load EVERY time a link is rolled over. this causes a little anoying flicker.

with NS 7.1 it loads the image once and is fine after that which is what I expected.

is there a way to preload the image so it doesn't keep "flickering" or a better way to do the css

a.menu:hover {
			font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
			font-size: 10pt;
			text-decoration: underline;
			color:#fff;
			display: block;
			background: #7EAABA url(menufadeh.jpg) repeat-y top left;
			}

thanks in advance

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[TruthInSatire]

oh sorry the IE browser I'm having the problem in is 6.0 on xp sp2

i have not tested it in lower versions yet.

firefox works the same as NS 7.1

oddly enough if i click "back" in IE it does not flicker.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
-Douglas Adams (1952-2001)