MACCLESFIELD'S plan to enter the Easter programme refreshed after a week off hit the skids when a virus problem cut short the squad's planned R&R break.
With Bristol Rovers contesting the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final last weekend, the Silkmen were without a fixture and manager Paul Ince had arranged a short training break at Cheshire's Carden Park spa and health club.
However, a virus struck down several players, most notably John Miles, Martin Bullock, Jamie Tolley and Matty Tipton, and forced the players to return home.
Macc assistant manager Ray Mathias said: "Our training facilities were letting us down and we wanted to give the ground staff a chance to do some re-seeding on the pitch.
"It was a good bonding session though, the new lads slotted in very, very well and, virus aside, things are going fine. We came back to guard against it spreading at a very important time for us."
Macc face two relegation 'six-pointers' in three days, with the visit of Wrexham on Saturday, followed by the trip to Boston United on Easter Monday.
Mathias added: "Easter is a very important time of any season, whether you're going for promotion or fighting to avoid going down. These are two massive games for the club, but everybody is pulling in the right direction and our appetite for the games is certainly there.
"The players have done brilliantly just to be in this position. If we can put a little bit of a run together, we'll achieve what we want to do, so we've got to be positive and determined going into this weekend.
"They have kept battling, even when things weren't going right earlier in the season, and the spirit and determination is superb.
"Everyone involved with the club, including the fans, has a big part to play in these two games - and then the five after that."
