Wanderers go Dutch to complete their public pre-season preparations when they take on NAC Breda tomorrow (Saturday).
The Whites face NAC – relegated from the top division of the Dutch league last season – at the Toughsheet Community Stadium a week before going to Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Steven Schumacher’s men are unbeaten in their warm-up programme since returning from a training trip to Slovakia and will be looking to keep the momentum going into their cup opener and then a first home date in the Championship in a fortnight’s time.
“Saturday is a big game for us. It's going to be a tough test,” said the Whites’ boss. “‘Bredders’ (Richard Bredice), our analyst, has already said to me it's going to be a lot of figuring out to do without the ball.
“Breda have got some really good rotations with how they try and play, so it'll be a good test for us to see if we can go and compete against a Continental team, see what we come up with against them and see if we can cause them some problems.
“Then, yeah, before you know it, we go to Sheff Wed where the real stuff starts.”
Wanderers will be looking to build on a goalless draw at home to Everton last Saturday and then Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town when they face the one-time Dutch champions and cup winners, currently managed by ex-Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion defender Carl Hoefkens.
Schumacher rotated his squad against Fleetwood, where winger Thierry Gale came off the bench to bag a late equaliser to extend the Whites' unbeaten run in pre-season to three games.
More of his senior men may get a start against NAC, who have posted a couple of recent wins over Greek and Belgian opposition in their pre-season programme before opening their league campaign in the Eerste Divisie next Friday night as they look bounce straight back to the top tier.
Chris Forino sat out the game at Fleetwood but is expected back to skipper the Whites while Eoin Toal continues his return to full fitness and resume a defensive partnership with summer signing Ben Davies, who was also unused at the Highbury Stadium.
Tickets for Saturday’s game against NAC Breda (KO 3pm) are available to buy HERE, priced £12.00 adults, £7.00 over-65s and £5 under-18s.
A free digital programme, including a closer look at our visitors from the south of the Netherlands, is available to download and read HERE