Premiership-class Foxes will provide a tough workout for Brakes

After sneaking into the Championship top six on the final day of the regular season, Nigel Pearson’s side looked destined for Wembley when Anthony Knockaert stepped up to take a penalty in the final minute of their play-off clash with Watford.

The dramatic miss and subsequent breakaway goal for Watford’s Troy Deeney left Foxes’ promotion hopes in tatters, but having seen Leicester in action several times last season, Holleran says they have too much quality to be languishing in the second tier.

“Leicester are a Premiership club in all but name,” said Holleran.

“And, if you look at it realistically [tonight’s friendly] is a game you probably wouldn’t want to be playing.

“But it’ll be a great experience for our players to come up against the likes of Andy King, Paul Konchesky and Anthony Knockaert.

“Leicester are like the Arsenal of the Championship, a real good footballing side.

“It’ll be a good experience, a real leg-worker for us.”

The New Windmill visit will be Leicester’s only warm-up fixture before they head out for a training camp in Austria next week.

Striker David Nugent is set to be their only absentee due to a slight injury concern, but otherwise Pearson is expected to bring over a full complement, including the players who have only just returned from international duty.

“I’ve spoken to Leicester and they’re bringing the whole first-team squad over, which is 20-plus players and they’ll all be doing 45 minutes,” said Holleran.

“Plus there’s a possibility that Jacob Blyth will be involved and that would be nice.”

Leicester start their 2013/14 league campaign two weeks earlier than Brakes, on August 3, and former Hull boss Pearson says it is important that his team go into tonight’s friendly with the right mentality.

“For the players it is for them to get back into the mode of playing games,” said Pearson.

“You have to practise in the correct manner, and we try to do that on the training field and in the warm-up games.”

Holleran will unveil all five of his summer signings tonight - Lewis Fenney, Tony Breeden, Paul McCone, Jamie Towers and Josh Green - while Jimmy Husband has put his retirement on hold to help out, with a few niggles being felt across the squad.

There will also be a return for Alex Taylor who has come through his first few training sessions unscathed after suffering a cruciate injury in January.

Tonight’s match kicks off at 7pm, with admission costing £10 for adults (£6 for concessions) and £2 for under-16s, with free entry for under-12s.