The first significant marker of the season will see the Cobblers in good shape, regardless of the outcome of their seaside trip, in comparison to the turbulent beginning to the 2013/14 campaign.
Chris Wilder was understandably upset by the nature of the 5-4 defeat against Accrington Stanley and the goals conceded by his side but the positives at this stage certainly outweigh the negatives.
Town are the top goalscorers in the division, putting right a problem that dragged them into last season's relegation scrap and the impact made by a number of Wilder's new signings has been instant.