Head Coach Steven Schumacher feels that Wanderers are ready for Saturday's Carabao Cup first-round tie away to Sheffield Wednesday, and he is expecting a "really good test" for the Whites at Hillsborough.
Wanderers begin their season with a trip over the Pennines to take on Henrik Pedersen's Owls in South Yorkshire, as the 2026/27 season kicks-off.
The Whites have had a positive pre-season and Schumacher is excited for the cup tie in the Steel City.
Schumacher told Wanderers TV: "We can't wait, it's been a good pre-season for us, a shorter one than usual, it's been one that we've enjoyed. The new players who have come in have made a really good impact, the players who we had last season have continued where they left off. We're really looking forward to it and we're ready to go on Saturday at Hillsborough.
"It's a really good game for us because we want to test ourselves against a team who will be a really good team. They were a Championship side last year, they went through a difficult season in difficult circumstances, and we go there knowing it's going to be a tough test. We want to go there and try and progress into the next round of the cup.
"They will be really well organised, they have a really good coach and they will be motivated for their fans as they went through a tough time last year and it wasn't easy for them, they will be looking to bounce straight back and get things moving in the right direction again and it's a really good test for us.
"They will pose a threat and the atmosphere at Hillsborough will be really good which it usually is, it's a good game for us to test ourselves and to see where we're at. We go into it with no major injury concerns and we're ready to go."
Schumacher knows Wanderers must "stick together" and the importance of togetherness, with the Whites set to be cheered on by a strong away support this weekend.
He added: "It's going to be a long season, starting on Saturday, so we're going to need to stick together, the players are all fully aware that it was a whole squad effort last year, it was proven right the way throughout the season how important players coming off the bench were, players who one week found themselves out of squads, the next week they were match winners, so it will be the same message this year, stick together and see how we get on.
"Every Bolton Wanderers fan that I meet, everyone is just so excited. Saturday is the first game, I'm sure we'll take a good number of fans over there and my message to them is stick together, enjoy the ride, it's going to be an exciting one."
Watch Steven’s pre-match interview in full by clicking here!