Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has suggested upcoming opponents Sutton United employ rugby-like tactics.
The two sides meet in a League Two clash on Tuesday night at Rovers' Memorial Stadium.
It is only 10 days since their last clash - a 1-1 draw at Sutton on February 5. Ahead of the re-arranged reverse clash, Barton has added fuel to the fire by questioning the tactics of Matt Gray's side.
That aforementioned stalemate saw the hosts commit 21 fouls compared to six by Bristol Rovers. Sutton also saw four players booked.
Now, Barton has made a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that tonight's game could do with legendary rugby referee Nigel Owens being the man in the middle.
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"I’m hoping Nigel Owens comes across the border and referees this game," Barton said.
"The Six Nations started last week and Sutton’s play in that game was very physical and bordering at times, I was saying to the fourth official, 'this is like rugby, we’re watching rugby'.
"They’re playing for throw-ins. They’re playing for corners. Barging into people but that is League Two.
"Me bleating on about it is only going to steely their resolve to be even more physical and more disruptive than what they would be.
"We’re at our pitch again. It’s bigger and it’s got a lot more grass on it and the ability to play football on it is there, compared to their pitch.
"We’re going to have to get the ball down and pop it around them and they’re going to launch it into our area and test us physically.
"We’re well-versed in it and again I’m looking forward to the game and seeing if we’ve learnt our lessons from the game at Sutton."
Barton's words are likely to spur on Sutton, who are enjoying a superb maiden campaign in the EFL.
Last year's National League champions have carried on the momentum from last season and head into the clash with Rovers fifth in the League Two standings.
Victory tonight could well see them in the top three automatic promotion spots, dependant on other results.
Sutton are in a rich vein of form and you have to go back to more than two months - December 7 - for the last time they tasted defeat.
As well as rolling along nicely in the league, they are also in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.
In their first-ever taste of the competition, Gray's men breezed through the group stage section winning all three games.
They then recorded home wins over Stevenage, Colchester and Harrogate. That set up a semi-final against League One high-fliers Wigan Athletic.
The clash at the DW Stadium takes place on Tuesday, March 8. The final at Wembley Stadium, against the winners of the Hartlepool versus Rotherham tie, will be on Sunday, April 3.
