NIGEL Clough is expecting his Brewers squad to be fully tested with potentially seven games in the opening three weeks of the season.
Albion have five Championship games from August 5 to August 26 and two rounds of the Carabao Cup, if they beat first round opponents Oldham.
Albion start the Championship season on August 5 at home to a Cardiff City side managed by former Albion boss Neil Warnock.
Clough said: “It’s nice to be at home in the first game and it’s a good one with Neil Warnock coming back to Burton.”
After that Albion travel to Hull City and Middlesbrough in quick succession.
Clough said: “That’s two relegated sides, so that’s a lot of Premier League players we will be coming up against. It will be a good measure for us, as just a few months ago they were pitting their wits against Chelsea and all the top teams and now we are facing them early season.
“You look at the first handful of games, Cardiff are ex-Premier League, Sheffield Wednesday just missed out on promotion, and with Hull and Middlesbrough thrown into the mix, that reminds you how tough the Championship is.
“If you get through in the cup you have seven games in 21 days leading up to the international break.
“But the Christmas fixtures have been kinder than last year with two good home games against Leeds and Norwich and a reasonably local one in Sheffield Wednesday on New Year’s Day.”
Full fixture list for 2017/2018