Grimsby Town manager Michael Jolley expects a difficult task against Stevenage in Sky Bet League Two at Broadhall Way on Saturday (3pm).
The Boro, who are currently bottom of the table, are still winless in the league as they sit on five points after 12 matches.
But Jolley expects caretaker boss Mark Sampson to guide them to their first league victory soon.
He said: “It’s going to be a difficult task. People can look at the league table and say the game could be straightforward, but we don’t think in that way.
“We know it’s going to be a really difficult game so we need to pick the right selection.
“We’re under no illusions about this game – if you look at the squad that Stevenage have got it’s a lot of the same players who got 70 points last season and were very close to the play-offs.
“They’ve got some dangerous attacking players like Kurtis Guthrie, Ben Kennedy, and Jason Cowley who has scored three goals in three games.
“And then you look at their defence – Scott Cuthbert was the Luton Town captain when they got promoted, Ben Nugent, Chris Stokes has got promoted the last two seasons, and Paul Farman’s experienced.
“So all the way through the team they’ve got good players.
“Mark Sampson has changed a little bit. He’s tinkered with the formation and style of play, and I think so far he’s done well with them.
“They’ve been unlucky not to get more points in the games that he’s been in charge for.
“And obviously he got a good win for them at Wycombe in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday so they’ll be feeling better about themselves having got that first win.
“And they’ll be looking to get another win on Saturday – they’re going to win at some point and we have to try and make sure it’s not against us.”
And Jolley revealed that winger Max Wright will be out for around three weeks, after suffering a thigh strain in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Mansfield Town.
He said: “He’s got a thigh strain so he’ll probably be out for three weeks.
“I think he’s been playing well for a while. He’s been in and out of the team, but he’s definitely made progress from where he was 12 months ago.
“I think his loans benefited him, playing regular games has benefited him, and he’s done really well since coming back for pre-season.
“And he deserved to get a chance in the team before his injury.”
Ludvig Öhman has returned to training, and could be available for our game against Leyton Orient at Blundell Park on October 19.
