- Leicester City host Villarreal at King Power Stadium in pre-season on Wednesday (7:45pm kick-off)
- That friendly clash will be City's only outing at home before the 2021/22 season begins
- Ayoze Pérez is excited by the prospect of playing in front of the Blue Army on Filbert Way
- Leicester's No.17 is also looking forward to facing elite European opposition
Unai Emery's side are the latest test for the Foxes in pre-season when they head to the East Midlands for a 7:45pm kick-off on Wednesday – City's fourth outing of the summer, ahead of Saturday's FA Community Shield tie against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Leicester's players are now back at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave after a week in Surrey. That trip coincided with friendlies against Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers and midfielder Pérez believes the squad benefitted enormously from time away.
"It was great," the Spaniard told LCFC TV this week. "[We had] a great time, all together. We were able to spend almost a week in the same place, training really hard. It was a great time and something that we needed as part of the pre-season.
"Obviously, after the break, it’s good to start getting the feeling of playing games, getting the body used to those kind of efforts. Training has been really hard, really good, with good standards and levels. It’s part of the process. We are looking for fitness in these weeks and I think we’ve done great.
"We are getting fitter every day, so that’s important."
The former Newcastle United man is braced for a big test of City's qualities on Wednesday against the side who lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy last term, but he is also looking forward to sharing a matchday experience with the Blue Army again – with tickets still available on general sale.
"We are back to our stadium," the 28-year-old added. "Fans are back as well, which is really important and special. It’s been a long, long time!
"That’s why I mentioned how important and special it’s going to be. It’s a great game to watch, obviously, but they’ve got the chance to get back to the stadium to support us again and to get those feelings back again. It’s great and we’re looking forward to it.
"It’s a big opposition, a great team, a very good team. They like to play good football, so it’s a great test for us before Saturday. We definitely are ready for it.
"It’s another test to improve fitness and to improve the competition and to get ready for what’s coming. Obviously, it’s a great team. This is the level of team we want to be playing against. That’s what we’ve got to be ready for, so it’s a big test for us.
"It’s an important game for ourselves and we’ll keep improving to be as ready as possible for Saturday and the next couple of weeks."
All times BST.