Wanderers Women are aiming to build on a positive start to the season as they host Bury in a local derby.
The Whites came from behind to beat Darwen 3-1 on Sunday thanks to goals from Abbie Brown, Lauren Sharples and Lily Weston.
Bury also had a strong start to the campaign, recording an emphatic 8-2 victory against Tranmere Rovers, and Tom Cunniff is expecting another tough test.
"We've got a really tough game on Wednesday, probably it will be one of the toughest of the season," he told the club site. "Bury are a good team.
“We beat them away last season and they beat us at home. They won convincingly at the weekend, so they've clearly recruited well. They're more direct and they're strong from set pieces."
The head coach was pleased with the character his side showed at Darwen after falling behind in the first half.
"We started really well, which is not something we managed in the last two pre-season games," Cunniff said.
"Then we conceded from a set piece and it was a lack of concentration, not picking people up, not being brave enough. But we reacted well.
"It was a really scrappy game. When we say physical a lot, but this was properly physical. They went long with everything, so you have to drop off and it becomes rough. We were still having chances, though.
"We just said keep going because we had been building momentum in that first half. Keep going, but move the ball better and don't get drawn into their game.
"After about five minutes, we settled and the midfield were dominating. We couldn't quite score for a while, but we were creating chances and I was never worried."
Wanderers finished third last term and are looking to kick on after a first pre-season under Cunniff, who took charge last October.
"We hadn't been behind in a tight game all pre-season, even though we tried to arrange those tests. You've got to fight to get back in, and we did,” he added.
“I've brought a few mature players in and I get the right reactions at half time now. They add bits in themselves and the younger players look up to that. The dressing room is the best I've been in."
The Bury game takes place at the Ginge Power Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.30pm) and supporters can pay on the gate.
Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for under-16s, while under-12s can attend for free with a paying adult.
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