It's to be hoped Macclesfield's team bus has been made ready for winter, as they're facing six road trips in the next seven matches.

John Askey's side have been imperious at the Moss Rose, with nine wins and four draws from their 13 league games on home ground.

But their play-off hopes will take a huge hit if they can't transfer that form into their away-days, starting tonight at Aldershot.

Currently marooned in mid-table, the Shots do have the pleasant distraction of an FA Cup replay with League One Rochdale looming, and with Macc in search of only a third away win, victory's far from a foregone conclusion at the Recreation Ground.

Macclesfield lost this fixture 1-0 at Aldershot's Recreation Ground last season
 

But a result could be vital for Macc, since they have many more miles to clock up over the next few weeks. Saturday brings a short hop for the FA Trophy at Altrincham and then a visit to Alfreton the following week.

After hosting play-off rivals Grimsby Town on Boxing Day Macc then hit the road three more times, with a long haul down to Bristol Rovers preceding the return match at Grimsby and then a trip to Kidderminster Harriers in mid-January.

But try telling Askey that it's make-or-break time for his over-achieving men.

"Everyone was saying our last three games (Torquay, Barnet and Woking) were the toughest ones in a row this season," he said. "Now we're through them people are saying these games are. I've played for managers who split the season into blocks and set a target for runs of games but I don't think that works.

"We just put everything we've got into our next game, that's the only mindset we can have.

"We're high up in the league and Saturday's win gave us all a lift - we know we can beat everybody in this league but if we're not at it then anybody could beat us."