Claudio Ranieri has insisted Leicester and Manchester United both want to win the Community Shield and there will be nothing friendly about the game.
The Premier League champions meet the FA Cup winners at Wembley on Sunday in what is regarded as the opening fixture of the new campaign, and Ranieri is expecting a competitive affair.
He said: "Why do you ask this question, a friendly? When is the Community Shield a friendly? Of course we will be at the maximum and Manchester United will be at their maximum. The two teams want to win. I am very excited.
It is a first opportunity to manage a game at Wembley for Ranieri and he is enthused by the prospect.
"When I was in the final of the FA Cup [with Chelsea against Arsenal in 2002] Wembley was being rebuilt and we played in Cardiff. But I was there for the first match at the new Wembley," he said.
The game is Jose Mourinho's first competitive match in England since being appointed boss at Old Trafford in May. Mourinho was sacked at Chelsea following a 2-1 defeat at Leicester in December, but Ranieri is not daunted by the prospect of facing the Portuguese when he has something to prove.
"We are used to living with the pressure and without pressure we are not the same," he said. "Jose always tries to win and his career speaks for itself."
Meanwhile, Ranieri will not stand in Craig Shakespeare's way with his assistant in talks over an England role.
Shakespeare, 52, has been approached by new Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce to work with him following his appointment last month.
Ranieri said: "Yes, I will be very happy [if he is part of the England set-up]. I watched Craig in the training sessions, he is very focused on the job, if there is some news I will speak to you. I will speak when something happens."