Buying the Game before release date question. PS3

Hi there,
I always buy my games at a nice little store near buy. I don´t like Gamestop so I´m willing to spend some more bucks to keep that store alive. In return I get my games some days (3-4) before the release.
This is going to be my first MMO on the PS3 witch has to have online access.
Will I be able to play the Game when I buy it? Will the servers be on some days before release?

I doubt that the servers will be on before the release. Even if they are I bet there would be close to no one playing since nobody has the game yet.