Chris Wilder looks ahead to Alloa Athletic v Northampton Town
Manager Chris Wilder believes Thursday night's pre-season fixture at Alloa is the ideal game at the ideal time for his team.
"The trip has been great so far and we are really looking forward to this game now," he said in a Cobblers Player interview.
"All the players want to play in the game and every time anyone pulls a Northampton shirt on I expect them to want to do well both individually and as a team.
"Now the first couple of games are out the way pre-season turns into a bit of an individual game because players will be looking to stake a claim for a first team place.
"Pre-season really kicks onto the next level now and it's up to the players to show Alan Knill and myself that they are bang in form and that they want to play.
"From now on in it's stake a claim time, these next few games will pass quickly and it's up to the players now to take their opportunity.
"There are a couple of players who might not be involved on Thursday night because we don't want to take any risks but the rest of the squad will be involved.
"We might change our shape a little bit and I've said all along that we are going to need to be flexible going into the season.
"This is a new group and it's important that we get use to playing in different systems.
"It'll be another competitive game which is what we want, Alloa are in a tough division this year and I'm sure it'll be a hard fought game."