The Scot named something close to his starting XI for the midweek friendly against Barnet and despite a 1-0 defeat at Underhill said the game was just what his players had needed.
"They didn't give us any time on the ball and that's what's going to be happening when we start our League games in two weeks' time," he told his official club website.
Cobblers boss Ian Sampson saw his men push another Championship side all the way on Wednesday night when Coventry City were the visitors to Sixfields and will look for a similar display against the Hornets.