Stevenage will be respectful but will not be afraid as they head into three big League One games.

The run of fixtures starts tomorrow (Saturday) when Oxford United visit the Lamex Stadium before the party heads north of Manchester to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

 It then ends with a return to Broadhall Way and a game against Wigan Athletic.

Bring it on is the message from manager Steve Evans.

"We're just about to enter a terrific period," he said.

"Look at the next seven days, from Saturday onwards, and it is three [big] clubs that we'll play. 

"We’ve got Oxford United first, a former top level club, former Milk Cup winners and with a pedigree, history and a big fan base. 

"They've got all, haven’t they?  

"Then on Tuesday we make the trip up to the north-west for Bolton Wanderers. I started there as an apprentice myself, too many years ago to remember, but they had the likes of Frank Worthington, Alan Gowling, Peter Reid, Neil Whatmore and Sam Allardyce. 

"And then it is Wigan and who can forget when they won the FA Cup under Roberto Martinez. 

"From that point of view, it is a really exciting period for us but we will never forget how humble we are to be playing those clubs."

But while the boss will remain humble in the face of the trio of opponents, there is no fear because Boro deserve to be in League One.

"We’re here on merit," Evans said. "In the normal course of events, football dictates where you are through what happens on the pitch and nothing will change.  

"We earned that right last season, and that was the boys in the dressing room and the support of the town, the chairman and the board. 

"Everyone was fantastic to get us over the line and into League One and when we did, we said look at the games that we’ll get in League One. 

"We've never hidden [that excitement] but my God, we're going to enjoy these games and we are going to try and win them. 

"If we don't, then let's not lose them and if we did lose them, then we'll learn more from them.  

"We are scared of no one but respect everyone and that’s the big difference."

And the Boro gaffer feels their early season form, which has seen them claim 18 points in nine games to sit third in the table, coupled with their promotion exploits from last year, is starting to change the perception of the club.

Evans said: "I think Stevenage as a club has always been respected because of the way the chairman and the board run it. 

"Even myself as an opposition manager, it was always a club that you would never look down on. 

"I think on the pitch, people are still expecting to see us in that bottom six and maybe, in time, they'll be proven right. 

"But those same people thought we'd be in the bottom six last year so they didn’t get that one right. 

"From our point of view. We just have to work hard on the training ground and every game we play, we have to play our best and we have to play at a maximum.  

"As we found out in League Two, and as every club finds out, if you don’t play your best and at your maximum, you lose. 

"We have to find a way to win games."