Skipper Ian Sharps is eyeing a successful reunion with former club Rotherham United as Shrewsbury Town get ready to host the Yorkshire club in an early season top of the table showdown.
Both sides are unbeaten so far in League Two and Sharps, who spent four years with the Millers before opting to switch to Shrewsbury in the summer, insists Saturday’s big clash is one to really look forward to.
“It’s always good to play against your old teams and try and get one over on them but it’s just three points at the end of it,” said Sharps.
“It’s second against third in the league so that makes it a big game in itself.”
Central defender Sharps has been pleased to help Town keep back-to-back clean sheets in the past week and knows they will have to be on top of their game to nullify the threat of Adam Le Fondre, his prolific ex-team-mate.
“I’m sure he’s disappointed he’s still there to be honest and he’s obviously a great player,” said Sharps.
“He got 30 goals last season which was brilliant so we’ve got to try and keep a clean sheet on Saturday as well.
“It’s going to be a tough game. They’re unbeaten, just as we are, so it should be a good one to watch.”
Sharps added he was hungry for more shut-outs to keep Town well placed in the table as they bid to maintain their flying start to Graham Turner’s second spell in charge.
Sharps, who is enjoying playing alongside Aussie Shane Cansdell-Sherriff at the heart of the back four, feels there’s no secret to Town’s new-found defensive resolve, stressing: “I think it’s hard work and decent players playing well together. Chris Neal has helped us out and so have the full backs.
“It’s a team effort with the whole thing defensive-wise so we can’t have all the praise ourselves.
“Two clean sheets in a row is always good to see and I think we’ve played well in the last couple of games.”
Sharps also believes the Town fans have a big part to play as the Greenhous Meadow prepares to host a bumper crowd this weekend.
He said: “We’ve got a good team, good players, a good system and good work rate so you can’t go far wrong with that.
“We’ve got great fans as well and I thought they were really good on Tuesday. It wasn’t a glamour tie, going to Oldham in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, but they made a good noise which was brilliant.
“It’s been the same for the last three away games so if they can get behind us the same at home, hopefully we can put on a performance for them.
“I hope they turn out in numbers and our home ground is a hard place for teams to come. If we start well, other teams won’t fancy coming here.”
Dean Holden, the Town right back currently on loan at Rotherham, will not be allowed to face his parent club this weekend.
England’s women’s team will take on Switzerland at the Greenhous Meadow in the first leg of their World Cup play-off on Sunday, September 12 (2pm).
By Stuart Dunn