Chris Davies has trust in his Blues players to cope with whatever comes their way in the lunchtime clash at Coventry City.
Coventry have made an unbeaten start to the Championship – albeit they have drawn four of their six matches.
Their engine room is one of the best in the league, boasting captain Matt Grimes and Victor Torp, with the talented Jack Rudoni able to cause serious problems in the final third.
But Davies pointed to his preferred pivot pairing of Paik Seung-ho and Tomoki Iwata, saying nobody has yet outplayed the pair this campaign.
Asked how he would combat this particular Coventry midfield strength, he replied: “The way that we normally set up is with Jay (Stansfield) as a 10 as such, so he’s there to help those two.
“They are strong in midfield. They are strong on the wings, up front. The two deeper ones (in midfield), Rudoni is higher up.
“I look at the opposition and think what is it we need to do to basically beat them. So what are they good at. What can we limit them doing and what can we do to hurt them.
“So there’s a lot to weigh up with Coventry because they have so many quality players.
“But Paik and Iwata, I would say – and obviously we have got Tommy (Doyle) and Marc (Leonard) – I haven’t seen anyone, any midfield, get the better of Paik and Iwata in the Championship yet.
“And they have played against some good ones and hopefully that can continue at the weekend.”
Blues have Alex Cochrane available after he satisfied the relevant concussion protocols following his forced withdrawal against Swansea City last Saturday.
Coventry could have Ephron Mason-Clark, another of their key men, back after a hamstring niggle.
It would appear both sides are prepared to give no quarter in the 12.30pm kick-off, and Davies was delighted that Blues rekindled a particular aspect of their identity in the 1-0 success over the Swans.
“I was pleased with how we played. We weren’t passive in any way. We had lost a couple of games and the danger is you can be passive a little bit and doubt individually as a player, and the team game.
“It was so good to see we were aggressive right from the off. We looked like us. We did it our way and showed a fitness and spirit to finish strong and get the win.
“We have to play with the same energy. As much intensity as we can.
“Knowing that, yes, it’s going to be challenge but we take great confidence from the some of the wins we’ve had, some of the performances we’ve had.
“We are away from home. We’re going to need to compete from the very first whistle to get something out of the game.”
Blues face a busy schedule: after Coventry, it’s Sheffield Wednesday at home on Tuesday, followed by Wrexham away on Friday night.
There is likely to be an element of squad rotation, depending on circumstance, Davies admitted.
“What it means is not many players out of the squad will be able to play all three games.
“Very few will be able to do every minute of every game.
“It’s not as if we go Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, it’s Saturday-Tuesday-Friday. Quick turnaround.
“But we love these weeks. These weeks we have to really embrace and enjoy because we want to play games and they are three really good games for us.”
Blues have received a boost with the news that Keshi Anderson could return to action earlier than expected, after an injury suffered in training.
Davies said: “He’s building up his rehab, He’s got an important two or three days just to keep building up on that and hopefully there’s some level of availability that can be there for us next week.”
- Blues Under-21s are in PL2 action this evening (Friday, 26 September) against Fulham at Stratford Town FC (kick-off 7pm).
