Tony Mowbray insists Blackburn Rovers must be ready for war as he takes his depleted squad to Lincoln City.
Rovers' Championship schedule is not easing up as they face two tough away games this week. The first of those sees them travel to League One's champions on Tuesday night.
It will be the first competitive league meeting between the two sides since 1958, with only four cup clashes since.
Lincoln's unlikely promotion was built on being an excellent, direct side. Though Michael Skubala left to join Bristol City, that hasn't changed with his assistants, Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen, taking the reins.
"It's always tough straight after a defeat," Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire ahead of the trip to the ProAmpac Stadium.
"But they come in, they recover with ice baths and massages to go again.
"We paint the pictures of what is coming. I watched Lincoln live at Middlesbrough a few weeks ago and they're very direct: long throws, free-kicks into the box.
"You have to head the ball, get ready with your sword and your shield with your tin helmets on. They are a good football team, I have to say.
"They play the percentages. The stats would say that they're the best at set-pieces in the country, or around that. They got promoted with a huge amount of set-pieces last season.
"We know what is coming. We have to go there and look forward to it. We have to let our talent cause them problems and I hope our individuals on the pitch make it uncomfortable for them.
"We will be ready for the game."
Lincoln won their first game of the season at the weekend, a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers. Their winning goal, headed in by Ben House from a long throw-in, underlined what they're good at and what Rovers will have to contend with.
It will be a night for Mowbray's soldiers to prove their worth. They will have to win the battles that allow the artists to prove their quality and win them the match.
Lincoln lost their first home game against Portsmouth, 3-1, and so their fans will be desperate for three points. With nine players out for Rovers, and the possibility of only one or two returning, they will need to dig deep.
Mowbray believes his side are developing in his image after a positive start to their Championship season. With four points on the board and more goals scored, he hopes that will continue on the road this week.
"It's the Championship season; it goes on for nine months," Mowbray insisted.
"I want to try and win the next game and whatever comes next, we go again. That is my mentality with football.
"The next game is all we focus on. QPR is done and we have to focus on going to Lincoln to get three points. Then Preston after that.
"We know what we are, the team we are trying to grow and develop. We are trying to change an identity from what it has been for a while.
"I hope and think the players are enjoying trying to create a brand of football that creates more chances and has more efforts at goal than they have for a while."
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