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Burton Albion midfielder Lucas Akins has welcomed the influx of quality over the summer and is relishing the fight for a place in boss Nigel Clough's starting line-up.
With little over a week to go until the start of the new season, Saturday's test against Shrewsbury Town followed by Leicester City's visit to the Pirelli Stadium are the final opportunities in pre-season for Albion's players to stake a claim for a regular role in the 2017/18 campaign.
"Of course", said Akins when asked about whether competition for places helps players step their game up and improve themselves.
"That can only help you as a player.
"You want to play as high as you can, so to be given an opportunity, first and foremost, to be in a squad. That is something I do relish."
Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Hurst has revealed his "respect" for Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough ahead of Saturday's pre-season friendly between the two sides.
The Brewers travel to Montgomery Waters Meadow on Saturday for their penultimate pre-season friendly fixture of the summer before the start of the 2017/18 campaign next weekend on August 5 against Cardiff City.
Clough took the former Grimsby Town manager on loan from the Millers after he was sent out in a bid to regain his fitness, and extended his loan after he became a regular in the side.
“It’s nice that someone of that name, and with his own playing career, was willing to start so low down. I have total respect for people like that", he said .
“Some people are fortunate, they get chances straight away at a high level.
“For me he’s learned his trade. It’ll be nice to see him again.”
Meanwhile, Shrews midfielder Louis Dodds is expecting a physical challenge from Albion ahead of tomorrow's visit.
“I think it might be a little bit more physical that the Villa game and the Wolves game because of the type of players they are and the type of team they are," he said.
John Brayford could make an appearance in a Sheffield United shirt next season - despite looking set for a move to Burton Albion this summer.
Brayford has returned to United and has been deemed surplus to requirements by boss Chris Wilder - with Wilder often touting Brayford for a move back to the Pirelli this summer.
But now it appears that the former Cardiff City man could be welcomed back into the fold at Bramall Lane and, although the prospect of him being included in the squad appear to be slim, assistant manager Alan Knill has refused to completely rule-out the possibility.
"Until something changes, they are still our players," Knill told the Star.
"They’re not kicking their heels. They have trained with us and are around to use if needed."
SportMail took a close look at how much Albion's Championship rivals have been spending in a summer where the market value of players has risen dramatically this summer.
The likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesborough and Wolverhampton Wanderers have spent eye-watering amounts on players, with Wolves breaking the Championship record outlay after their £17 million splurge on Porto midfielder Ruben Neves.
The results are startling , with Albion spending just £500,000 on one player this summer - record siging Liam Boyce - compared to Boro's £30 million on strikers alone.
