League leaders Burton Albion are the visitors to Spotland on Saturday as Dale return to home action after last weekend's trip to Oakwell.
The Brewers, who were League Two champions last season, currently sit three points clear at the top of the Sky Bet League One table and Manager Keith Hill is expecting a “very difficult” encounter.
“I think they [Burton Albion] have progressed magnificently through the leagues with stability, good management and the retaining of good players.
“I think they’ve responded excellently to League One football and I think they’re in a position to see it through. The stability is there for everyone to see through the way that they’ve done things and they’re a club that I admire.
“I admire the management and the players that they’ve got – there’s a collective team ethic. Nobody is bigger than the team and what they all do first and foremost is serve the function for their team and for their football club, so they’re in a very good place at this moment in time.”
Rochdale have never beaten Burton Albion in a league fixture, with the Brewers winning by a goal to nil on four occasions.
Hill knows that the first goal could be important against the well organised league leaders.
“The first goal no matter who the opposition is always important from a psychological point of view and it’s our aim to do that.
“We’ve come up with a game plan and I will certainly always back the players and back myself to turn any situation around.
“And we’re really only turning round a one game situation [last weekend's defeat to Barnsley]. Far too much can be made of that one game situation.
“I’m looking forward to the game, I’m looking forward to representing the football club, the players and myself.
“One thing I have always done, if there has been a time of need, is surround myself with fighters and surround myself with good people. People who will fight with me and on my behalf, and I expect the supporters to be with me 100-percent in our fight against Burton and the remaining 20 games of the season.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.