Martin Drury has warned his Huddersfield Town players to try and stay away from "chaos" against a Milton Keynes Dons team he sees as similar to least season's League One champions Lincoln City and capable of following them into the Championship.

The Dons are managed by former Rotherham United boss Paul Warne and his long-time assistant Richie Barker, and their latest side bear many of the hallmarks of the Millers team which was so strong in the third tier.

They have recruited ambitiously since finishing second in League Two in Warne's first full season and are tipped to do well again in 2026-27.

"They're reminiscent in my mind of Lincoln last season," said Drury, who won his first league game as full-time head coach on Saturday.

"There's some real similar characteristics there – very, very direct, big, strong, powerful, they're good in chaos moments in the game, and from what I've watched, they try to wear you down, and they're a real threat when they get in the final third.

"We've got to be really respectful because they're very good at what they do, and we're good at what we do so we look forward to that challenge.

"We've got to try and make the game look how we want it to look, and respect how the game will look in certain moments when we've got a scrap, we've got a fight, and we'll be doing that and look forward to it.

"I've looked at them, they'll be right up there at the end of the season, in my opinion.

EXPERIENCE: Paul Warne (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

placeholder image — EXPERIENCE: Paul Warne (Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

"I think they've got a really good group, they've signed good players, the manager is proven at this level, and his staff.

"Paul (Warne) and Richie (Barker, his assistant), who I know well because they were in Rotherham, they're specialists to get out of League One.

"I've watched them in the lead-up to this game, (they're) tough, very, very, very tough to play against. So again, big, big challenge.

"I don't read into them being in League Two last season, they'll be at the top of the league, in my opinion, by the end of the season, because of the staff they've got, the group of players.

ADMIRER: Huddersfield Town coach Martin Drury (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

"I know the club will be ambitious and want to go again, so it's surprising that they were where they were last season."

At least in League Cup opponents Preston North End, last week’s visitors Wimbledon and now MK, the Terriers are in the groove of playing against direct opponents.