Luke Chambers has been taking nothing granted ahead of next week’s big kick-off, even to the point of admitting that he made no assumption that he would he continuing as captain.
It was Paul Jewell who signed Chambers from Nottingham Forest in 2012 and he first wore the armband under his first Blues boss before becoming the regular skipper under Mick McCarthy.
But even though he has led the team in their pre-season friendlies to date, 32-year-old Chambers hasn’t assumed that that will automatically be the case when Town start the new season at home to Blackburn on Saturday week.
However, manager Paul Hurst confirmed this afternoon that Chambers would remain the club captain going forward, although the skipper still appeared not to have formally been given the nod.
Chambers, speaking at the club’s Open Day, said: "You can say I’m the captain but the new manager would be well within his rights to change that. I’m not counting on it.
"I’ve been the captain in the pre-season games but if he brings someone in, and he feels they are going to do a better job for the football club, then that is the way it is going to be.
"I’ll be doing everything I can to give the best that I can to the team. I’m not expecting to start every game and I’m not expecting to be captain but if that is an honour that he gives to me — and he trusts me with that — fantastic.
"We have had our chats but there haven’t been loads of them. He has obviously picked my brains on certain things and some issues.
"We had a chat over the summer, when he first got the job, and it has been a good start for me and the gaffer so far.
"Hopefully, if there is anything I can do to influence anyone in the squad or influence the games I’m going to try to do that for him.”
Chambers has faced the challenge of impressing Paul Hurst head-on, even confessing that the change of manager might have been beneficial to him after more than five years under McCarthy when he was rarely absent from the side and only through suspension or injury.
Asked if he felt "nailed-on” under the previous boss Chambers added: "No, but I didn’t have any reason to not play. I feel I’ve played pretty decent football for the club for the last six years and at quite a consistent level.
"Yes, I’ve played in positions I haven’t liked as much, but playing centre-half I’ve enjoyed it for however long it is that I’ve played there — and I don’t want that to change. I love playing for the club, I love living where I live, so I’ll be doing everything I can to extend my time here, really.
"The first two weeks, I’ll say [it was] a shock to the system but it wasn’t not enjoyable for me. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, the change and the new ideas, and I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks.
"Obviously, different people take a lot longer, or have different time frames to get their heads round what’s happening.
"It’s been very tough but they have brought in a new system where you have to fill your name out on your phone or on an iPad and say what level of intensity the training is, with 10 being virtually impossible. In the first five days I think everyone put a 10!
"It shows you the level we’re at but I feel the squad is definitely buying into the ideas — the new training, the new set-up of how we are looking after ourselves and our bodies, and for me I think it will definitely stand us in good stead.
"I think we’ll be absolutely flying that first game of the season and I don’t think the lads can wait for it.”
So how is life under Hurst, who was lured from Shrewsbury to replace McCarthy and continue a managerial career that has always been on the up since he started out in non-league nine and a half years ago with Ilkeston Town, climbing the ladder with moves to Boston and Grimsby before the switch to Shropshire?
Chambers said: "He goes quietly about his business. It’s been a breath of fresh air for me, him coming in.
"I think one of the first interviews he gave was, ‘It doesn’t matter who’s been where and done what’. I think I needed that, if I’m honest and it’s a challenge to get myself in the team regardless of who’s here and who he signs. I’m going to give everything I can to be in the team.
"I don’t want to be seen as someone who’s played every game for the last 10 years and been a manager’s favourite.
"Whoever came in, I was always going to rise to the challenge, and hopefully I’ve done enough to be in the team.
"We haven’t got too many defenders so the challenge hasn’t been great, but whatever happens I want to be in the best possible physical shape, which I do feel I’m in at the minute.
"I think all the boys can say they are in the best physical shape they have been in for a long time and that should allow us to produce what the manager is asking for.”
Hurst has been joined at Portman Road by his assistant at Shrewsbury, ex-Nottingham Forest defender Chris Doig, who played alongside Chambers at the City Ground and has already made his mark with Town.
Chambers added: "He’s a strong character and that’s probably been another shock to the system.
"It’s always different when you’ve been used to one thing for so long and then things change. It takes a while for some people to get their heads right but the boys have responded.
"I’m not sure if you noticed but he’s had a little pop at close quarters that the standard of training wasn’t quite up to it today. I think he had every right to do that and I think no stone will be left unturned.
"There will be no days off for anyone in terms of when you’re out on the training pitch you are working — working to improve and working to be the best you can be. If we can all buy into that mindset there are no limits to what we can achieve this season, if I’m honest.”