Chris Hogg is looking forward to his first experience of Sixfields when Cobblers host Premier League Coventry City on Saturday (2pm kick-off).

After losing their opening friendly 3-0 to Leicester, Hogg’s men face another stern examination against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues, who have returned to the top flight after winning the Championship last season.

It’ll be Hogg’s first opportunity to sit in the home dugout.

"I’ll be a bit up and down so I’m not sure there’ll be too much sitting, but it’ll be really nice to see the fans at Sixfields and experience that,” said Hogg.

"I’m looking forward to meeting them, it’s obviously a tough one but hopefully we can start seeing some green shoots towards where we want to get to once the season starts.”

While in the past Cobblers have generally started pre-season by facing non-league opposition, this year their first couple of games are against two big clubs in Leicester and Coventry.

"It’s a great challenge for us,” Hogg added. “There’s lots of ways to tackle pre-season. You used to start with local games where you might rack up a score. You’d maybe look to build confidence by scoring goals and then you start playing better teams later in pre-season and you get a smack of reality.

"I obviously wasn’t here when the fixtures were put in but it actually suits how I work and what I want to do. These first couple of games will give us a real good test with the out of possession work and the leg work and it’ll give the boys difficult moments.

"We know it won’t be easy and it’s not going to be perfect against Coventry but we’ll have a mix of personnel and the teams will mixed up with the Southend game coming up.

“We’ll look at different combinations in the team with an awareness that it won’t be exactly what I’m after but the boys can build on their fitness and hopefully they are able to go again in midweek. That will be a big positive for us.”

Hogg has recent experience of facing Lampard’s Coventry following his time working as a coach in the Championship.

He added: "I’ve played against Coventry numerous times in the last few years and they are a really good attacking team so we will be tested defensively, that’s for sure.

“They’ve had a fantastic season so it’s a big test but we’ll give it a right go and hopefully we can give them a game and give the fans something to enjoy.”

Cobblers will wear their new home kit for Saturday’s game after it was unveiled for the first time on Wednesday.

The club confirmed: “The kit is available online now and will be available from the club store for purchase and for collections from 10am-5pm on Thursday and Friday. The club store will also be open on Saturday from 10am until kick-off and again after the game.”