Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince has warned Wycombe are “wounded animals” and pose a bigger threat than any other team in the league.
The Saddlers travel to the Chairboys tomorrow with their hosts rooted to the bottom of League One with just one win all season.
Boss Gary Waddock is searching for his first victory after taking over from Peter Taylor two weeks ago, but Ince reckons their position makes them dangerous opponents.
The goalkeeper said: “They are wounded animals – they are bottom and want to get out of it. They will be more dangerous than a team above us.
“They’ll want to prove to the new manager what they can do. They’ll have a higher fighting spirit than the teams above us and we have to make sure we stamp our authority.”
Ince regained his place against Exeter two weeks ago, after Rene Gilmartin’s hamstring injury and is set to start with the keeper out for up to three more weeks.
The Trinidad and Tobago international says 14th-placed Saddlers, four points off the drop zone, know the consequences of defeat at Adams Park and don’t want to get dragged into a relegation scrap.
He said: “They want to prove to the manager and prove to the fans they can get out of it and are a good side. We have to go there and make sure we are the better side and we deserve to be where we are.
“We won’t be going there thinking they are bottom and it’s going to stay like that, because if we get beaten we could get dragged down there with them.”
Jamie Vincent is a doubt for Walsall with a calf injury but Steve Jones, Sam Parkin and Richard Taundry could all make the squad.