Ben Woods sidelined, but Peterborough United confident of finding key to unlock a tough Burton Albion side

The midfielder has been sent for a scan following some swelling on his knee following his substitute appearance against Leicester last weekend. Posh are yet to find out the results of that scan.

That is Posh’s only new injury issue heading into the match. Centre-back Tom O’Connor is unlikely to be involved as he continues to build up his minutes in youth team matches. Savage expects him to come through a 60-minute and then 90-minute appearance in the coming weeks before being ready to see first team action again.

Savage will lead Posh into his first home league game as manager against a Burton Albion side who sit in 10th after making a strong start. They have lost their last two, against Doncaster and Huddersfield, but have picked up notable away wins at Plymouth and Leicester in their opening 10 games.

Savage has a close relationship with Burton boss Gary Bowyer. Savage was playing for Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, between 2005 and 2008, when Bowyer was youth team and then reserve team manager at Ewood Park.

The pair have stayed in touch and although Savage paid his respects to Burton’s quality, he has again insisted that the match will be about his side and that they must shift their thinking to how they can play through a low block, which they will likely encounter.

Savage said: “Burton are a good side, but I want them to think about how they can stop us. I’m not worried about stopping them. If we’re worrying about stopping Burton at our own ground, then I and our team have got a problem.

“We have to show them respect, they have a brilliant manager who goes under the radar with the job he’s done, but let them stop us.

“I want them to be sitting here trying to think how they are going to stop us and how good we are.

“Gary is a great guy, I speak to him all of the time. He’s got character and personality. Pat Lyons, his assistant, was a coach when I was at Derby. I know the owner too, who is a good man and Burton have done unbelievably well.

“They show good togetherness, they can adapt and Gary gets the best out of people and he knows the game tactically inside out as well. That’s the kind of manager I try and be.

“I have massive respect for them, but Peterborough United at home can beat anybody, starting with Burton.

“Luckily for me, at my previous club, loads of teams were scared of our pace and went into a low block so I have history of trying to break them down. They will look for moments, but it’s up to us to break it down.

“It will be about us attacking but then, in moments in transition, we need to sprint back and defend the edge of the area.”