Mick McCarthy insists Wolves head to Rotherham tonight keen to stretch an unbeaten record which stretches back to the first pre-season friendly - and would be whoever the opposition.
The Carling Cup has not been viewed as a priority by a fair few clubs in recent seasons, but Mick wants Wolves to progress, and while there will be changes at the Don Valley Stadium it will still be a team of senior professionals all aiming to book a spot in round three.
And indeed also aiming to maintain the levels of fitness and quality on show in such abundance at Ipswich on Saturday.
"We don't want to drop the form levels and that would be the same whether we were playing Birmingham at home in the league or Rotherham away in the cup," said Mick.
"It's no different - we want to play well and we want to win games.
"We've been unbeaten since we played Wrexham and lost to a 30-yard wonderstrike 12 days into pre-season.
"Whilst pre-season friendlies don't mean anything I say they do if you lose!
"It's a nice feeling not to be beaten and winning is a lovely feeling which you never get tired of whatever game you play.
"Be it golf, tennis, cricket, football, winning is the best feeling - it just rubs off.
"There's a good atmosphere here anyway but when we're winning it's fantastic.
"You can have a good squad of players, a good football club and everything is done properly but if you get beat no one gives a flying monkeys about that - you just need to win."
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (sore foot) and Matt Jarvis (sore hip) are the doubts for tonight and neither will be risked unless they are deemed fully fit.
Darren Ward, fresh from coming off the transfer list, is likely to feature in defence with more words of praise from his manager who has further explained his decision.
"Darren has just got on with his job and has been a credit to himself and his profession how he's gone about things," added Mick.
"Even when he wasn't playing at the end of last season he was training far better.
"I think he'd missed some things out of his regime that he does personally but he's back on that.
"He's very dedicated is Wardy, he looks after himself really well on top of what we do with him in training.
"The way he has conducted himself throughout it all has been commendable - he wants to stay here and prove he should be playing and he's done a bit of that already.
"Stephen (Elliott) and Darren (Ward) are the only other two on the list and if the window comes and goes they'll still be involved in the squad.
"I've told them that all along.
"They are still Wolves players and can play in this league because they are both good players."
Tonight's second round tie will be decided on the night with extra time and penalties if required.
* Stay tuned to WOW tonight for live updates from the Don Valley Stadium and a match report and reaction shortly after the final whistle.
