Wanderers continue their Carabao Cup quest at Shrewsbury with boss Ian Evatt aiming for a win-win situation.
Evatt wants to guide the Whites into the third round of the competition for the first time since 2018 with victory over their League One rivals tonight (Tuesday).
And the Wanderers’ chief is also looking to the tie at the Croud Meadow (KO 7.45pm) as a useful work-out for some of his players yet to feature heavily in the Whites’ League One campaign.
Evatt made eight outfield changes for the first-round win over Mansfield and is again set to rotate his squad against the Shrews and Barrow next Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy to get as many players as possible fully fit and firing.
“The end game for us is to make sure everyone is up to a level of fitness where everyone is equal,” said Evatt. ”These cup games that are coming up, and the one we've just had against Mansfield, give us the opportunity to give these lads much-needed minutes to get them up to full speed.
“Post the international break I think everyone would be on a level playing field and ready to kick on.”
Some of the new faces who joined Wanderers just before the start of the season, along with those who were carrying summer knocks, could therefore be involved against Shrewsbury, whose sole success so far in a tough start to the season came with a penalty shoot-out win over Notts County in round one of the cup.
And as well as topping up their match fitness, Evatt will want whoever’s selected to deliver a winning performance to advance in the competition and bounce back from last Saturday’s first league defeat at Charlton Athletic before the weekend visit of Exeter City.
“It's another chance to try and improve and get better and that's what we're going to work really hard to try and do,” added the Wanderers’ boss.
“Shrewsbury is always a difficult place to go – tight surroundings, tight pitch, and they will be desperate to get through to the next round.
“It will be a tough game but we are just focused on ourselves and stepping forwards. We want to win every game we play and this will be no different.”
Supporters can pay at the gate tonight with details HERE and if you can’t make it, full live match commentary will be available via Wanderers TV with a £2.50 match pass available to buy HERE