HULL City boss Steve Bruce has implored his side not be frightened by the challenge of facing Manchester City this lunchtime after proving they can compete in the Premier League.
Seven days on from winning their first points of the season with a 1-0 victory over Norwich, the Tigers travel to the Etihad Stadium today plotting a huge upset against Manuel Pellegrini's title-contenders.
Although Manchester City's 3-2 loss to Cardiff City last weekend has provided Bruce's side with a glimmer of hope, the upset has left the Hull City boss fearing a backlash from a stinging host. Inspiration instead comes from within the City camp and Bruce believes his side can take huge heart from the opening weeks of their top-flight return.
"Cardiff have stirred a hornet's nest for us but we're going there to play against one of the biggest clubs in Europe and all around the world," said Bruce. "It's the Premier League and that's the challenge. We proved for an hour against Chelsea and again last week that if we go about it properly we've got a chance.
"We know it will be mightily difficult, but let's not be frightened by it. Let's take part in the game and make a fist of it."
Any hope of complacency in their hosts was shattered by fellow new boys Cardiff last weekend. Despite beginning Pellegrini's reign with a stylish 4-0 win over Newcastle, a shock 3-2 loss in the Welsh capital has left Manchester City with early ground to make up. Bruce expects an onslaught at the Etihad Stadium but is unwilling to place the emphasis solely on his defence. City must chance their arm, according to the 52-year-old.
"I saw them against Newcastle and they were electric. You've got to be on top of your game and your concentration levels," he said. "You've got to defend right but you've also got to take part in the game. That's the big thing.
"You can't just sit there and defend for 90 minutes because eventually they will make a pass, make a chance and ultimately beat you. We've got to pose them some sort of threat. Cardiff did that last weekend from set-pieces. One of the best full-backs in the world in (Pablo) Zabaleta has been done twice at the far post.
"I didn't think Man City played that badly last weekend but Cardiff got a goal from nothing and it gave them belief. It just shows you how hard the Premier League can be, even for Man City."
This lunchtime's televised fixture is at least not the step into the unknown it once was. An opening day meeting with Chelsea ended with a 2-0 defeat for the Tigers but over an hour of resistance has provided quiet optimism.
"I hope we'll be better for that game but I have to say it could've happened to most teams the way Chelsea started," Bruce said. "The last thing I said to (assistant manager) Steve Agnew before the game was whether or not we can handle it.
"Mourinho coming back and sprinkling stardust, that was always going to be difficult. But I hope the second half there and last week against Norwich can give us confidence we can play at this level. I know for a fact we'll have to be at our best and in the Premier League it's relentless."
