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Norwich v West Brom: Excited James Morrison relishes testing Championship start Albion are gearing up for a challenging August with the Championship back under way this weekend. James Morrison is relishing the chance to see if a demanding pre-season was up to scratch - and believes a challenging start to the season can suit Albion. Albion head to Carrow Road to tackle Norwich City in Saturday afternoon’s Championship curtain-raiser. The Canaries, under Philippe Clement, were one of the form sides of the second half of last season and are fancied by many for a promotion tilt. There is no let-up in August for the Baggies, who welcome relegated Burnley the following Sunday before a north east double in cup and league to see out the month with clashes at Newcastle United and Middlesbrough. Subscribe now for HALF PRICE and catch every minute of our Albion coverage this season - from pre-season to the final whistle. CLICK HERE Morrison is under no illusion about the scale of task but is ready to test his troops. “I probably said it will be tough, but I'm excited for it,” Morrison said in his press conference this week. “I'm not looking for excuses. I'm looking at it as probably a good time to play them, with the rhythm. They will probably try to strengthen as well in the coming weeks, so I believe it's a good time.” For all but two of Morrison’s seven new senior recruits - back-up goalkeeper Matt Ingram and deputy left-back Conor Townsend - it will be a possible first exposure to Championship football. The head coach added: “Yes - I think that (test) is why they've come to the football club, to progress. “We've all seen JJ (Morgan)'s qualities as well. It's up to me to coach him and to be ready and develop them into good Championship players. “Their dream is probably to get to the Premier League, as well as the club’s, so they have come to get there.” Championship debuts could be forthcoming for Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Barney Stewart, Nolan Galves, Felix Horn Myhre and Rabby Nzingoula. Morrison’s side have mostly faced lower-league opposition during pre-season, aside from a draw against Premier League new boys Coventry. The head coach has ran his troops hard in pre-season and has admitted he gets his “kicks” seeing how far he can push players to their limits. “I’m excited to see how far we’ve grown and to see if the work we’ve done in pre-season has been valuable,” he said. “I think Norwich will be one of the toughest tests we’ll have. I think they’ve had an advantage of keeping the majority of the squad together through pre-season. They’ve signed (Andre) Brooks and got a really good manager. “I’m excited for the test but well aware of the challenge it is. “(I feel) really ready. I don’t want to sound like a boxer and say ‘I’ve had the perfect camp’ - but I feel we’ve squeezed everything out of the team and players. Against Rotherham you could see a team that is well-functioning and that was pleasing. “It’s my job to prepare them for the mental challenge coming. I know what it’s like for them to be in that arena. I want to go there and impose ourselves. We’ve worked hard for seven weeks - why would we change the way we’re going to do things now?” Carrow Road boss Clement has made just four new signings this summer, including former Baggies youngster Sam Field and the eye-catching £8million move for Sheffield United winger Andre Brooks. The Canaries were dealt the hammerblow of losing exciting wideman Ali Ahmed to an ACL injury, however, and are assessing Mathias Kvistgaarden with fellow striker Jovon Makama sidelined.