NIGEL Clough says seeing the Brewers Championship fixtures highlights the size of the challenge facing the Brewers.
Albion take on the Gaffer’s former club Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season, with Derby County coming to the Pirelli before the month is out.
Clough said: “Playing Nottingham Forest straight away puts into perspective the scale of the achievement and the size of the job ahead. The first Championship season in the club’s history was always going to be special - it’s added to that just a little bit more with it being Forest first.
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 “Our connections with Nottingham Forest adds something to the fixture but whoever it was it was always going to be exciting. Forgetting about any personal connections, it’s former European Cup winners we are playing. That really does bring it home.
“It’s a tough opening first five league fixtures before the first international break. It will be an interesting month and we will get a measure of what we are up against.
“It will be nice to be welcoming Gary Rowett and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink bank before October is out.”
Albion are then away on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve - to Aston Villa and Rotherham respectively.
“Although they are both fairly local, it’s disappointing not to have one of them at home,” said Clough. “We are home on January 2 (to Preston) but it would have been nice to have had one of the others at home. But that Boxing Day fixture at Aston Villa will be another special one.
“Once you see the fixtures in print it makes it real for players, supporters, managers and coaches. Then you have something to aim for straight away."