Dale have exceeded all expectations following last season's promotion from npower League Two and are one of only three teams to beat Saints on their own patch this term.
They secured a 2-0 win at St Mary's when Dean Wilkins was in caretaker charge and Adkins is determined not to let them pull off a prestigious double.
"They are very competitive, they get the ball forward, but they can play football and they have got threats," he told Saints' official website.
"They have a nice balance of age and a nice blend of how they play, they mix it up well.
"If we don't have our mentality right it will be a bigger challenge than it needs to be."
Source: PA
Source: PA