'A bloody nightmare': Huddersfield Town boss Martin Drury on League One leaders Plymouth Argyle plus Joe Taylor's incentive

Not just because it constitutes a 630-mile round trip either. Far from it.

Factor in Argyle's current status as League One's frontrunners and there is also the not inconsequential matter of seven Town players being unavailable through injury - including some key absentees.

Drury's chief worry is more about trying to combat the Devon outfit's playing approach, which has changed significantly under their Bradford-born manager, Tom Cleverley.

Just under 12 months ago, Argyle slumped to the bottom of the third tier following defeat at the Accu Stadium, which left Cleverley hanging on to his job.

Instead of sacking him, those in the corridors of power at Home Park, alongside Cleverley, decided upon a style shift instead.

Pragmatism won the day over idealism and results have been pretty impressive since Argyle switched to a more direct way of playing.

Town head to the south west without their two leading centre-halves this season in Murray Wallace and Radinio Balker. One likely deputy, Joe Low, hasn't started a league game this season and neither has Sean Roughan.

Ryan Ledson is also among the visitors' absentee count.

On his way back from an elbow injury, the Town captain is also sweating on the outcome of an FA probe, having been charged with misconduct following last weekend's derby with Sheffield Wednesday.

The midfielder is alleged to have used 'abusive and/or insulting words' towards a match official in the tunnel area at both half-time and after the final whistle. Ledson has until today to respond.

This has all made for a difficult week for Town, who must dig deep in Devon.

For his part, Drury, who spoke gushingly about his players' attitude in meetings on Monday, professes himself ready for the club's biggest test of the season to date.

It will be far from easy or straightforward.

On combating Plymouth, Drury said: "A bloody nightmare is what it is…

"They're very, very strong and very clear on what they do. It's interesting because I watched Tom Cleverley when I was at Watford and he played a slightly different style when he first went to Plymouth.

"Now he's shifted his approach a little bit. But I think it's a bit disrespectful to say they're just a direct team. They are direct, but they also play good football.

"They know when to play good football and when not to. And the players they have recruited are big, strong and powerful and right now they're finding a way within their identity and style.

"Anybody can do it however they want. I respect everybody's way of playing if it's clear and that's what you believe in and how you play.

"We know where we're at and know how we want to play. We're still developing it.

"We still want to get better at it. There are some things I'm really adamant about improving, which we will - and I know we will.

"It'll just take us a little bit of time. But we have to be at our best on Saturday for sure."

The main positives from the bittersweet derby with Wednesday came in the form of Joe Taylor and Derensili Sanches Fernandes.

The latter scored for the second successive weekend.

Despite worries that he could be absent after coming off in the final quarter due to a knee issue the winger is managing, Drury allayed fears of him not being involved at Argyle.

Taylor, who got the nod ahead of Ashley Fletcher after missing the game at Burton following his maiden call-up to the Wales' senior squad, confidently struck his sixth goal of a renaissance campaign.

After impressing in training and securing positive feedback from Wales chief Craig Bellamy - despite not being handed his first senior cap - Taylor should not be short of incentives for both club and country in this next block of games before the final international hiatus of 2026 next month.

Further good performances with Town could tip the scales in his favour regarding being handed a cherished debut.

Drury added: "I hope so. Again, it's full credit to Joe for how he's come back in pre-season and how he's worked with the start that he's had.

"He's got six goals now. It's a really good return.

"I think you saw on Saturday that his work ethic without the ball was again exceptional. I've got total belief in Joe.

"Joe keeps scoring goals and will keep scoring because he's got good quality around him that will keep providing opportunities for him and his work ethic will create goals for himself."