Unbeaten Ipswich Town will look to continue their fine form on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Barnsley to Portman Road in League One.
The Blues are the division's early pacesetters having claimed an impressive 13 points from their opening five matches and have won the last four league games on the spin.
Ipswich come into this match fresh having not played in midweek and will bid to make it five consecutive league wins for the first time since October 2003.
Their opponents, Barnsley, have had a slow start to the league season with two wins and three losses to their name, including last weekend's 3-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.
The Tykes also played on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup when they were dumped out of the competition by Premier League outfit and Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has had a strong start to his first full season in management after joining the club last December.
McKenna knows the importance of the home crowd, expected to be more than 24,000 this weekend, and knows what to expect from Saturday's game.
He said: "We feel like we've prepared for the game well, it's going to be a good challenge.
"Obviously everyone's looking forward to getting back to Portman Road, the atmosphere's been fantastic this year. We're going to need huge energy from on the pitch and in the stands and if we do that we'll give ourselves a good chance to win."
But the Blues boss knows the challenges that come with facing Barnsley, having been relegated from the Championship last season.
He said: "I expect a tough game. It's been a mixed start in terms of results but that can happen. They're still a very good team with lots of good players from last year.
"We’ve studied very hard how they’ve played in their early games, we generally think we know what to expect and it's about being ready mentally and physically for that challenge that’s coming."
Barnsley manager Michael Duff acknowledged his side's busy week and reflected on the midweek defeat to Leeds.
He said: "It's a difficult start, particularly as they've had a clear week and we've had a Wednesday night game against a local rival.
"It was a physical game and the numbers were high, but it is what it is and we get on with it."
Duff, who came up against Ipswich as Cheltenham Town boss last term, was keen to point out the hosts' impressive record under McKenna.
He added: "Kieran has got his stamp on things now. They play some really good football, but I think the most striking thing is in 30 games he's had in charge they have kept 15 clean sheets.
"That tells you how hard they are to break down never mind all the good stuff that comes with it. There's a definite clear structure to what they're doing now. It's a tough game."
Team news
Ipswich Town
Ipswich will have Dominic Ball available for the first time following an ankle injury he sustained late in pre-season.
Ball is yet to make his Town debut following his summer move from Queens Park Rangers but could feature against the Tykes.
McKenna said: "He's had a full training week and is now fully available for selection."
McKenna also spoke about the fitness of wing-back Wes Burns, who has missed the last two games with a groin issue.
"We will make a call on whether he can be involved tomorrow and is capable of any minutes," he said.
Elsewhere, Ipswich have a fully fit squad to choose from with no long-term absentees, something the Ipswich boss says is testament to the players and medical staff.
He added: "We're in a strong place, we had everybody training [on Friday].
"In general to have that many bodies fit and available is a big bonus and shows that they're looking after themselves well and in good condition. It certainly gives us some good options."
Barnsley
The Tykes have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Suffolk, but manager Duff admitted Wednesday's game has made it difficult to have a fully fit squad ahead of the weekend.
He said: "Everyone came through the game, most with a few bumps and bruises. They're all a bit sore."
Duff is not looking for excuses, though, knowing the tough test that lies ahead of his side.
"It's 11v11 for 90 minutes," he added. "There can't be any ready-made excuses in their mind. If we lose it's because we get beaten by the better team. Hopefully that won't happen."
The Ipswich clash is likely to come too soon for both Herbie Kane and Michał Helik, who are both nearing a return to action.
Nicky Cadden injured himself in the warm-up last weekend having just returned to the side following a calf problem, although his setback is not expected to be too serious.
Aaron Leya Iseka will not feature and the Belgian could move on before the transfer window closes next week.
Likely lineups
Ipswich Town (3-4-2-1): Walton; Burgess, Woolfenden, Donacien; Davis, Morsy (c), Evans, Vincent-Young; Harness, Chaplin; John-Jules.
Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Collins; Kitching, Cundy, Andersen (c); Styles, Benson, Connell, Williams; Thomas; Aitchison, Cole.
Key players
Conor Chaplin
Ipswich forward Conor Chaplin has started this season how he ended the last, netting twice so far this campaign.
This included a goal in last weekend's 3-0 win at Shrewsbury Town.
Chaplin was signed by the Tractor Boys from opponents Barnsley and will be facing his former employers for the first time since leaving the club last summer.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is another player who will be facing his former club this weekend.
Thomas played just five matches on loan at Ipswich without scoring during the second half of the 2020/21 season.
But, after a loan spell in League Two with Bristol Rovers last season, Thomas is finding his feet again at Barnsley, playing in all seven matches so far this season.
He has been deployed by Duff as an attacking midfielder playing behind two strikers and scored against Cheltenham earlier this month.
Form guide
Ipswich are yet to lose in the league this season and enter this match off the back of four straight league victories and three straight clean sheets.
The Suffolk side have kept more clean sheets (16) under McKenna than they have conceded goals (15).
The Tractor Boys have lost just two of their last 22 league matches, a run stretching back as far as January.
Town have also lost just one of McKenna's 13 home league matches in charge.
Mixed results have been the state of play for Barnsley since Duff's arrival as manager this summer.
The Tykes have won just one away league game in 16 months and have lost both away matches in the league so far this season.
They did, however, win at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup earlier this month.
Head-to-head
Barnsley are winless in their last 11 matches with Ipswich. Their last victory over the Blues came in November 2010.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams in more than four years.
Match details
Where is the game being played?
Portman Road will play host to this clash, the home of Ipswich Town since 1884.
What time is kick-off?
The match will kick off at 15:00 BST on Saturday, August 27.
How can I watch?
The match will not be televised for supporters in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, while overseas supporters will be able to purchase an iFollow match pass from either club.
Highlights will be available to watch in the UK on ITV4 and globally on social media the following day.