Malky Mackay anticipates a difficult afternoon when he takes his Cardiff side to West Brom in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Bluebirds boss does not expect an easy ride at The Hawthorns, and he praised manager Roy Hodgson and the Baggies in general for the work they have done to establish the club in the top flight.
However, Mackay refused to concentrate too much on a fixture some four weeks away just yet, with the hectic Christmas schedule just about to get underway.
"(It's a) Premier League tie and it's a tough game, a very tough game," he said. "Roy Hodgson is a top manager and West Brom are a very well run club and a club that has been on the up for the last three or four years.
"It'll be a tough game for us but I'll try and forget about that one until it comes around."