Cobblers boss Keith Curle admitted he was surprised to hear the news on Thursday that Saturday's opponents Macclesfield Town had parted company with manager Sol Campbell.
“I was slightly shocked to hear that, Sol did a fantastic job there and I wish him well,” he said.
“A lot of people would have said at the time it was a thankless task but he really turned things around there and he will have gained a lot of invaluable experience from his first managerial tenure.
“They have started the season really well and it looked like he had put a platform in place. I think a lot of the fundamentals Sol had put in place will still be evident on Saturday and I don’t envisage too many personnel changes.
“Because of our results against them last season there will be expectancies around but Macclesfield are a well-organised team and they will cause problems.
“Nobody will give us three points and everything we get this season we will need to earn.
“From the first minute on Saturday those credentials have got to be in place, the attitude and application needs to be right and also the willingness of the players to accept the challenge as they did against Swansea.
“We want that first win. We’ve got the players and there is a desire and hunger amongst the group for what is required.
“The challenge to the changing room is to get that first win and then when we get that it’s to go and get another one.”
SECURE YOUR TICKETS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME VIA ntfcdirect.co.uk