DONCASTER Rovers will provide Grimsby Town's toughest pre-season test so far – but boss Paul Hurst is relishing the challenge.
The League One club are tonight's visitors to Blundell Park (7pm) as the Mariners return home for the first time in almost three months.
It is the first time that Town will have faced a team from higher up the footballing pecking order this pre-season.
And while Hurst knows that Paul Dickov's side represent a significant step-up in opposition, he is not unduly concerned by the quality in their ranks.
"We know it's a big step up in terms of opposition and we're looking for a good performance," he told the Telegraph.
"We played pretty well at Matlock the other night, although the result wasn't quite what we were after.
"For 60 minutes or so, I was happy with what I saw on the whole, so we're looking to build on that tonight.
"It's our first chance to get back on Blundell Park, an opportunity for the fans to see the new lads and for those players to pull on a shirt and run out for the first time at their new home ground – I'm really looking forward to it.
"I'm sure that Doncaster have got some good players, but I haven't looked into them too much. I would for a league game – but this is more about us and what we're going to do."
Unlike Town's previous clashes against Cleethorpes Town, Scarborough, Harrogate and Matlock, Hurst won't be making too many in-game changes this evening, as he looks to get more minutes under his players' belts.
After tonight's visit of Rovers, Town take on League Two outfit Mansfield on Friday as their pre-season preparations move into top gear this week.
"A lot of the lads will get plenty of minutes on the pitch, rather than there being lots of changes and that will be the same on Friday night against Mansfield."
