Mark Robins' side welcome Maidenhead United to the Ricoh Arena for Sunday's FA Cup first round tie.
The Magpies were promoted to non-league's top tier last season after winning the National League South and are playing in the first round proper for the fifth time in twelve years.
City however going into the fixture off the back of an impressive 3-0 victory away at SkyBet League Two leaders Luton.
"The place has been happier this week. It has been fresher," said Robins.
"We have done some different things this week. They have been paintballing. They have done all sorts of things together so it has been a different week which I like leading into an FA Cup tie because it is a different competition with a different feel.
"We are playing on Sunday too, so that is different. This is a good stern test for us. It will not bea easy at all because Maidenhead have a way of playing that suits them and they will try to make it as difficult as they can for us.
"On the flipside of that we want to make it just as difficult for them."
Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire was an FA Cup winner as a player having won the tournament in 1980, ten years before Robins' victory with Manchester United, and the Sky Blues are aware of the non-league side's obvious threats.
"They are a different oposition but Alan has been doing it for a longtime. He has a reputation for playing good football and he uses well what he has at his disposal.
"They have a long throw-in taker. I do not think I can kick the balll as far as their man can throw it," he laughed.
"It is a tough challenge and the players know what to expect and understand what the challenges are.
"I want to do well in this competition. Lincoln last season did fantastically and got a promotion aswell. The games came thick and fast for them so there is a benchmark for us.
He added: "It is a great competition and that never changes for me. When the draw comes around you want to be in the hat. You get butterflies when you draw the numbers out and you want to be part of it."