Just two weeks before the npower Championship opener against Peterborough United at King Power Stadium, the last-minute cancellation of a vital pre-season game at Lincoln was never going to be ideal preparation for Nigel Pearson's squad.
But while the Foxes faithful may have been denied the chance to see their team in action at Sincil Bank, the players' preparations for the new campaign at least continued uninterrupted, as they took on the Imps behind closed doors at King Power Stadium.
The late nature of the game's reshuffle made opening the doors to the Blue Army impossible due to the stadium's safety regulations, but at least on-pitch preparations continued unhindered.
There was a positive outcome for City too - Lloyd Dyer (2), David Nugent, Jamie Vardy and Andy King all on-target in a 5-0 win over the Conference National side - but assistant manager Craig Shakespeare was just happy to have kept the players ticking over in the countdown to kick-off.
"As much as we'd liked to have played in front of the fans, it was important we didn't disrupt the players' preparations, so we were extremely grateful to Dave Holdsworth and his staff for bringing a team to King Power Stadium at such short notice," Shakey told lcfc.com.
"All the work we'd done during the week had been building up to the game on Saturday. We'd been planning towards who would need a full 90 minutes, who would need 75 and integrating players like Ben Marshall back into the fold as he's been missing with illness.
"Had the game not gone ahead, it would have impacted on training in the early part of next week and possibly the Westerby Cup and Nuneaton games.
"The players were all pleased to get the game in - it was a very good exercise. The result is never too significant in these matches, but the players are gelling together nicely."
As well as Marshall's reintroduction to the fold, the strike partnership of Vardy and Nugent was given additional time to develop, while Dyer's double added to his headed goal in Wednesday's 3-1 win at Burton.
A young City side is now expected to make the trip to Loughborough Dynamo on Monday night in the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA's annual Westerby Cup Winners' Cup fixture, though there could be some experienced faces involved at Nuneaton Town on Tuesday night.
Pre-season then concludes at King Power Stadium on Saturday, when former Foxes boss Martin O'Neill brings Premier League Sunderland to Filbert Way.
"The Torquay and Peterborough games are coming up on the horizon so to stay on schedule was important. The players are getting fitter, looking sharper, building a real team ethic and gelling together," Shakey added.
"We have two games in the early part of the week, which will allow us to top-up some of the players' fitness if we feel we need to, then the Sunderland game on Saturday before the cup game at Torquay next week."
Tickets for Saturday's visit of Sunderland are available from the City Fanstore at King Power Stadium, from
www.lcfcdirect.com and from the City Sales Centre on 0844 815 5000. Tickets are priced as follows:
Season Ticket Holders
Adults/Seniors/Under-22s - £10
Under-18s - £5
Family Tickets (2 x Adults plus 2 x Under-18s) - £25
Non Season Ticket Holders
Adults/Seniors/Under-22s - £12
Under-18s - £6
Family Tickets (2 x Adults plus 2 x Under-18s) - £30
Tickets for the game will initially only be available in the West Stand (including the first floor) and blocks P2 and P3 in the North Stand.
Buying your tickets for the Sunderland game is easy.
Online:
In person from the City Fanstore:
The City Fanstore at King Power Stadium will be open from 8am on Saturday and is normally open from 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-2pm on Sundays. On matchdays the Fanstore is open up to kick-off and then for 45 minutes after the final whistle.
Call the City Sales Centre:
Call 0844 815 5000 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
Email the City Sales Centre:
Email
sales@lcfc.co.uk with your ticketing requirements and one of the sales team will call you back.