Manager Simon Grayson has praised Barnlsey boss Paul Heckingbottom ahead of this weekend's trip to Oakwell.
The gaffer will go head to head with Heckingbottom on Saturday as both sides look to close the gap on the teams above them in the Championship, and Grayson has been impressed by Barnsley's season so far.
Speaking to PNE PlayerHD ahead of the roses clash, the PNE boss said: "Barnsley have had a fantastic season, Heckingbottom has done a fantastic job since he's been there in terms of getting out of League One and winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last season.
"Then the season that they've had so far and the budget that they've got shows that the staff are working extremely hard, they are good at their jobs and they are getting the best they can out of the players.
"There are in there with us in the pack trying to close the gap on teams above us, so it's going to be a tough game. Going to Barnsley is always a tough game but when you have a group that is determined and works hard for each other it's imperative that we need to make sure that we match their qualities as well.
"Our players are focused on that and hopefully we can execute that."
Away from the pitch and the busy fixture schedule, North End continue with their plans for the future with the proposed development of a new training facility.
Speaking of the potential new training complex, the gaffer feels it shows the club's ambitions for the future: "It just shows again the longsighted view that we have got as a football club, we've got good facilities at Springfields but we want to take the whole club to another level both on and off the pitch.
"If that means getting a new training ground which we would certainly like to do, it's going to help us improve the team, it's going to help the Academy improve and there will be better opportunities all round.
"Hopefully all of the plans are going to plan as such and we can get that all approved and get building what we think is already a real good football club, but one that we think in the future is going to go to the next level.
"It will help attract better players when you have better facilities and ultimately give our players the best opportunity to improve on and off the pitch."
clicking here.Hear more from the gaffer on Saturday's trip to Barnsley, the potential new training ground and more on PNE PlayerHD by