Steven Schumacher is aiming for cup progress to help get his new-look squad fully fit and firing.
The Wanderers’ boss leads his side into the start of their Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday night with a clash against Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.
The Whites will be looking to make it back-to-back home wins following Saturday’s impressive first League One success of the campaign against Plymouth Argyle.
And Schumacher believes the changes he’s planning to his starting line-up can have a positive effect on all fronts.
“The result and the performance from Saturday's game should give us a bit of confidence going into the next one but the preparation stays the same,” said Schumacher ahead of the round-one tie.
“For us it's another game in the season that we want to try and do well in. I think with it being so early in the season it will be an opportunity for us to make changes and give people minutes because that is still something that we have to be aware of.
“I don't think you get fully fit and up to speed until probably five or six competitive intense games. So the more players we can get to that level, the better it will stand us.
“But it's a game that we want to win. We've got competition for places in pretty much every position in the team so far, so anyone who plays on Wednesday night will have an opportunity to stake a claim.”
Wednesday started their season on Sunday with a 2-1 loss at Leicester City on the back of a summer of turmoil at Hillsborough.
Financial concerns, ownership issues and transfer restrictions have dogged the Owls, who have lost a number of players as a result.
But Schumacher believes Wednesday – under the guidance of new boss Henrik Pedersen – will still pose a threat and a genuine obstacle to a potential place in round two.
“I watched Sheffield Wednesday's game on Sunday and they were really difficult to play against,” added the Whites’ Head Coach. “They've still got really good players. I know they're in a tough situation as a club right now but sometimes that can bring you closer together and give you that extra bit of spirit.
“That's certainly what it looked like to me the weekend. It looked like a team that were fighting for each other, wanting to try and get through it and fighting for the fans.
“I've seen everything that's been going on with the protests and everything. We really sympathise with what's going on with them, so not only is it a talented Championship team, it's a team with something to play for and, as I said, that extra determination.
“It'll be a hard game and we need to make sure that we're up for it. I think momentum is big in football and we think we've played well in the first two games. Performances have been okay but we've only managed to get the result in one of them.
“We want to try and play well and get the result that gets us into the next round of the cup because an extra game gives you more minutes for people and opportunities to play. We want to just try and continue it and build from Saturday's performance.”
Watch the full interview on Wanderers TV and get tickets for Wednesday night’s game – priced just £10 and £5 – HERE