IPSWICH Town manager Keiran McKenna labelled visiting Saints “a massive challenge” but insists his side will attack it "head-on".

The Tractor Boys are flying high in the Championship following on from promotion out of League One last campaign.

Ipswich are third in the division with five wins from their opening six games, while only Norwich City have scored more than their 12 goals in that time.

Saints are coming into the match off the back of two heavy defeats to Sunderland and Leicester City and have conceded more than any team in the league.

McKenna, however, speaking ahead of the contest, said: “We need to give them the respect that their quality of play and players deserves, but at the same time keep our bravery, keep our confidence and go and impose ourselves on the game.

"We're under no illusions as to the scale of the task, but we're also looking forward to it. It's one we'll go and try to attack head-on."

He continued: "I know they’ve lost their last two games but you only have to look at the quality of their starting XI and the quality of the substitutes that came on, on Friday night, to know that it’s going to be a big, big challenge for us.

“Going there away from home, having been away to Sheffield on Saturday, it’s a massive challenge.

“We’ll look at the areas where we think we can hurt them but we will also be really respectful and know that they’ve got top, top players for this level and really good players for the level above.

“We’re going to have to go there with really good organisation, really good humility, try and be brave as well and do everything we can to get a performance."

The Blues boss added: “The variation of games is a lot greater than it was in League One. We have challenges like Sheffield Wednesday, which was maybe more typical of what we faced last year, and we’re now playing against a really possession-orientated team. 

"That’s a great challenge for us and it’s exciting to take it on.”