Keith Curle says the Cobblers will use the experience of last season as they adapt to life in League 1.
Northampton Town have four points from 5 games, just the same as last season, and Curle says his squad will develop as the season goes on.
"Everyobody wants points on the board early but we are in a very similar position to last season," he said. "The same record after 5 games, a number of new players getting used to a new environment and getting to know each other's game. We know where we are at and where we need to improve and there is more than enough in our dressing room.
"Plymouth will be another tough test. They came up with us last season and we know the task ahead, which is to adjust to League 1 and establish ourselves in this division.
"We have to find our identity in this division with the players we have that suits us. We need to shape the squad in to a team and do that while creating chances and nullifying the opposition.
"I don't think last season's game against Plymouth comes in to it. We won't be thinking too much about it, it was a long time ago with different personnel involved. Every game we play we come up against a team who have strengths and weaknesses that we will look to nullify and exploit.
"From our point of view, we haven't defended as well as I would have wanted us to and we haven't used the ball as well either and we need to improve.
"The understanding within the group of what is required in this division is improving, we don't sugar coat things and we spend time looking back at games, being critical of each other but also looking at how and where we can improve."