Tom Heaton says Aston Villa are relishing going up against Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool in their next two league games.
Dean Smith's newly-promoted Villans play host to back-to-back champions City on Saturday, before heading off to Anfield next weekend to take on current league leaders Liverpool.
It's a week that would frighten almost every Premier League newcomer, but Villa goalkeeper Heaton says the club see it in exactly the opposite light.
The former Burnley keeper says Villa are relishing going up against the two dominant sides in the division to test themselves at the very highest level.
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"They're widely regarded as the two best teams in the league and we’re playing them back-to-back, that’s what the Premier League is all about," said Heaton.
"There’s no fear, there’s no worry there at all, just a hunger to go and embrace the games and look to put our stamp on the games and go and try and get a result.
"We know it’ll be tough, we know how much quality they’ve got and they’re both great sides but these are the teams we want to go up against."
Following the games, Villa's players will be in a better position than most to form an opinion on which way the title race will go this season, after such a dramatic and high-quality chase last year.
"It's difficult to say right now," Heaton added. "Both have been excellent over the last couple of years, Liverpool have started stronger but there’s an awful long way to go. They’ve both got immense quality.
“City are struggling at centre back which could be hampering them, at this moment you’d edge towards Liverpool but it’s still very early and looking back over the last couple of years, you write Man City off at your peril.”
Tom Heaton was talking at a media event for his Precision Infinite Heat Gloves, part of the Precision Heat range, designed alongside the Aston Villa and England goalkeeper.
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