Mark Hughes is expecting a "doubly difficult" challenge as Bradford City prepare to face promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
The Gas remain firmly in contention for honours, sitting three points shy of League Two's automatic promotion places in sixth with seven games remaining. A dramatic upturn in form since the turn of the year has made Joey Barton's side contenders and Hughes expects Rovers to cause the Bantams problems at the Mem.
The former Manchester City and Southampton manager was a surprise appointment by Bradford in February, owing to his pedigree of playing and managing in the top flight. He has history with Barton from when the Welshman was in charge at Queens Park Rangers in 2012, with the pair rarely seeing eye to eye.
But the former Manchester United and Barcelona forward offered praise for his counterpart and his team ahead of Saturday's contest.
“They are a good footballing side," Hughes told Bradford's club website. "Joey has gone there and clearly made an impression on the way they play. They get it down, they play out from the back and they have good threats at the top end of the pitch.
“It is not going to be easy, by any stretch of the imagination. The confidence they have got comes from winning games which will make it doubly difficult.
“I still feel excited by it. I feel it is another test to measure where we are up to at the moment and we will take it for that.”
The Bantams, among the early-season favourites for promotion, have endured another frustrating campaign in the fourth tier. Derek Adams was sacked in February with Bradford adrift of the promotion race and Hughes' job will truly begin in the summer with an inevitable rebuild.
But he insists 14th-placed Bradford have no intentions of coasting to the finish line this season, with several of his players fighting for their futures at Valley Parade.
“It was always about finishing the season strongly," Hughes added.
“We want to win with predominantly wins rather than draws or losses. There are plenty of players playing for contracts so it suits everybody.
“There is still a lot to play for from my point of view, so we need the performance levels to be maintained.”
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