Wanderers Head Coach Steven Schumacher wants his side to begin the Sky Bet Championship season on a positive note when Preston North End visit the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
The Whites will mark their return to the second-tier after seven years away by welcoming Preston for a 12:30pm kick-off as Wanderers start their campaign with a North-West derby.
Previewing the fixture against Paul Heckingbottom's Lilywhites, Schumacher is looking forward to the opening day.
Schumacher told Wanderers TV: "We're so looking forward to the opportunity, it's going to be a brilliant day, it's nearly sold out so if you haven't got your ticket, hurry up and get one before they sell out. We want it to be a good atmosphere, and we want to try and start this league campaign on the front foot and on a real positive note if we can.
"The message will be the same to the players, go out, enjoy yourself, play with no fear and go and try and win the game as we've waited long enough for it.
"They (Preston) will bring a really good following as well, it's our closest game logistically, so we're also going up against a fully established, well coached and well organised Championship outfit, so it's not a game that we'll just turn up and enjoy the occasion, we know that we're going to have to play really well in and we want to try and get the result that we want.
"Paul (Heckingbottom) has been there and done it at this level, he knows what the next level looks like as well, so we know that we are going to be in for a difficult game. They are going to be as motivated as how we are. We have to try and show our quality where we can if possible.
"We have to get the plan right, we have to make sure that the team understand what's required, what the details with the tactics are, but most importantly that the commitment is there. We know that we are in for a battle every single game that we come up against, you have to make sure that you are at it 100% in this league, because the small moments, the difference in the quality and the difference in the level, they are that decide the outcomes of the games quite often, so we have to make sure that we are prepared and we do as best as we can."
Wanderers are set to be cheered on by a White Wall against Preston, with over 25,000 tickets already sold, and Schumacher believes that the home support can play their part from the stands.
Schumacher added: "I hope everybody comes here and gets behind the team and enjoys it because it has been a long journey to get back to this level, so let's start on the front foot and try and make sure it's a good journey that we're going into.
"We know what we're up against and we know the challenge. We'll stay calm as coaching staff and we'll try and get that message across to the players and that will be the same for our fans. Enjoy it when we're doing really well, enjoy it when we're having tough moments but most importantly, stick together."
Limited tickets remain available for Saturday's game. Get behind the lads and show your support from the stands by clicking here!