Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman is looking forward to the 'thrill of the battle' as his side get their 2020/21 campaign underway at Burton Albion tomorrow evening.
The Reds will travel to the Pirelli Stadium in the First Round of this season's Carabao Cup and Coleman admitted that he and his coaching staff can't wait to be back on the touchline.
"I'm really looking forward to the game tomorrow, you can start to see a pattern and a shape emerging with the players in training.
"We're focusing on playing football now, which myself and the rest of the coaching staff love preparing for games, watching the opposition and planning strategies to counter what they can do.
"It's the thrill of the battle now and we're looking forward to it."
Coleman also explained that with games being played behind closed doors, it has proved trickier to study upcoming opposition and that it is hard to gage tactics from friendly games.
"Even when you look at friendlies, it's difficult to gage.
"You can get an idea of the shape that they play and the patterns that they play, but you know it's very difficult to gage from watching the opposition play friendlies.
"We know what we've got to do, we're focusing very much on ourselves at this moment in time."
Stanley have so far made six new signings and Coleman is hopeful of bringing in a further few additions before the window shuts in October.
"I think we'll hopefully get a couple more, I'm pleased with the additions we've made.
"You have to be mindful that we are running two separate squads, we're running a 23's squad and a first team squad, they can interchange and should interchange.
"If we can get the 23's squad up to nine or 10 and the first team squad to 20 or 21, I think we'll achieve what we want to achieve."
Coleman went on to speak very highly of goalkeeper Toby Savin, explaining how he expects the 19-year-old to go all the way and play at the highest level.
"I've got no hesitation in putting Toby in, he's come back big and stronger and fitter, and this is a big year for Toby now.
"Even if we do bring another goalkeeper in, Toby is definitely going to have a top professional career and I expect him to go all the way and play in the top flight.
"I've got in my mind what I want to go with and obviously I'd like everyone back fit, but you've got to go with what you've got.
"I'm sure we won't be the only team that's been affected by injuries after this long lay off."
With the first few games of the 2020/21 season set to be played behind closed doors, Coleman is relishing the opportunity when supporters are allowed back in to games.
"It'll be strange playing a game of football that means something, when there's something at stake but no fans.
"It'll be the first time I've ever encountered it, maybe a part from when I went to Gretna when there was only about 22 and a dog there, when I was at Ashton.
"I can't wait for our fans to come back and we've made some exciting signings that'll get them off their seats I hope, and things are looking promising for us, they're looking on the up."
The full pre-match interview video with John Coleman is available to watch on the club's official YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to find out more!