Keith Hill is excited about the challenge that awaits his Tranmere Rovers side when Newport County visit Prenton Park in Sky Bet League Two on Tuesday night, 7pm kick-off.
Rovers welcome Michael Flynn’s Exiles to the Wirral, aiming to secure a third straight win and move into the division’s top three if results go their way.
Newport head into the game in sixth, two positions below TRFC, and Hill is relishing the meeting under the floodlights.
Hill said: “They are an established League Two promotion contenders year after year since Michael Flynn has been there so they have got good pedigree and it will be a difficult game.
“They have been up there for the last two or three years and it will be a difficult proposition, but it is one that we are looking forward to and one that we are excited about.
“We are in good form ourselves and we are very optimistic going into this fixture.
“We’re focusing on the game, and it doesn’t matter where or who we are playing against, home or away, it is about the characteristics of the team that have got us success and we expect that to be replicated with the calibre of players that we have got.
“The players are in a positive mood and they are confident. They won’t underestimate any opponent or take any opposition lightly, and they know that the first ingredient to any success is hard work, and those levels have to be maintained and the players are prepared for the hard miles.”
The Newport contest sees Rovers return to their home ground for a double header, which also includes hosting Crawley Town this Saturday.
Hill is “mindful” of the threats that Rovers' opponents from South Wales will bring, but he is confident in his players ability to earn another three points.
He added: “We are a threat, but we are very mindful and respectful of any opponent that we are facing.
“Every individual opponent represents their own challenges and Newport are no different. They’ll come with their own style, their own players and they’ll have a plan to be successful against us so we’ve got to make good footballing decisions and set ourselves up to play a certain way, and once the game starts, the players will have to take control.
“We have got intelligent energy on the pitch with the calibre of players that we have got, if Newport try and make the changes to try and get the better of us.”
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