This weekend's League Two action will see a battle of two contrasting managerial approaches at Meadow Lane.
Neal Ardley's Notts County have a newfound inner-calm at the moment, with the squad embarking on mid-week walks and get-togethers, with tea and coffee supplied by their boss, in an attempt to relieve any pre-match anxiety.
Following the Magpies' 4-1 defeat away at Cheltenham, Ardley took his squad on a half-hour maunder to a local cafe in what he joked turned out to be one of the more expensive lunches of his life.
His players never got round to settling the bill with their gaffer. Instead they repaid him with an immediate bounce-back in their Tuesday night victory at Carlisle.
As Ardley starts to discover that relaxation could be the key to on field success, Keith Curle has been doing quite the opposite in charge of opponents Northampton Town.
The ex-Notts boss has been working his players harder than ever this week after the Cobblers slumped to consecutive defeats for the first time since January.
Neal Ardley hoping his Notts County players prove their mettle against bullying Northampton Town
His pros have been in and training everyday before 9am and have been repeatedly questioned by their manager regarding their commitment.
Ardley has tried a number of different approaches this season, but whatever he did in the build up to Saturday's victory against Stevenage certainly paid off.
"If I knew what worked I would do it every week," he said with a laugh.
"Taking them on that walk was the right thing for the right time. We were all very low after the (Cheltenham) game so it was just about getting them away from football and away from the ground.
"It was all about getting some different scenery and we had a chat and a walk, so, it may have played a part."
"You hope that training plays a part and the messages you're getting across during training, but once they cross that line at three o'clock it is down to the players.
"Last week, or the last few weeks, I feel that they have left everything out on that pitch."
Goals at Meadow Lane have almost dried up entirely in recent weeks, but Ardley's forwards have more than demonstrated that they have what it takes to fire Notts towards comfortable victories in their away fixtures.
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The challenge now for Ardley is transferring those rampant performances on the road into their home form.
"There are two parts to it," said Ardley. "One is how the team get into the final third and get in good positions with the right people in those positions. That is number one - and we have worked hard on that.
"The second part is, once they're in there, getting the psychology of the players right and getting them to have fun.
"The forward players are the ones who are most likely, it isn't guaranteed, but are most likely to make things happen and we have tried to put a bit more emphasis on the likes Jim (O'Brien) and Mitch Rose.
"Mitch had a good chance (on Saturday) and the keeper made a great save and then Jim obviously scored.
"Hopefully, the fact that they have scored three goals on two occasions in the last four games will show them that they can do it.
"They just have to put a smile on their faces and enjoy it, and that is why I talk about wanting the crowd to help them to relax and enjoy attacking the opposition."
Curle's heavy handed approach has turned heads amongst Northampton fans this week, and the 55-year-old responded with a Neal Ardley hoping his Notts County players prove their mettle against bullying Northampton Town.
Striker Jon Stead believes Notts County are a better side now they have realised their own strengths
Come Saturday evening, the result will show which manager has made the right call with their pre-match approach, but nothing will stop Ardley from sticking to his guns between now and the final whistle in May.
"We will keep it the same. Win, lose or draw, I really don't change what we do," he said.
"When we plan our sessions everything is based around the intensity we need to work out how we play, what we need to get out of it and what we feel the individuals need within it.
"Keith will be looking for a reaction (from his Northampton players). He was obviously disappointed, and I am sure he will get it. We will need to play well."
