Stevenage boss Alex Revell says his team are excited by the challenge of taking on League One leaders Cardiff City.
Boro are third in the table and will be defending an unbeaten home record in the league when they take on the Welsh club on Tuesday.
Stevenage have had a week to prepare for the game, having not played at the weekend following their first-round FA Cup exit last month while Cardiff beat Huddersfield on Saturday.
“In terms of expectation, I’m sure they’re probably everyone’s favourites to go up this year,” Revell said of Cardiff, who have won their past three league games.
“For us, we haven’t lost at home in the league and it’s about maintaining that run, it’s about organisation, being aggressive, front-footed, [winning] first and second balls, all those things that make us a team, we have to get right.
“Playing against the top team is no different, we’re all really excited by it, the squad is ticking along nicely,” he told BBC Three Counties Radio.