There's a relief from the rigours of the league for Macclesfield tomorrow but there's no sense in the camp that it's a day off.
Because John Askey takes his high-flying Silkmen to fierce rivals Altrincham to get their FA Trophy bid under way, and he knows it's another tricky away-day in a tough festive fixture list.
The draw handed them a short trip to Moss Lane, and a chance to avenge their league defeat in September, courtesy of James Lawrie's injury-time winner for the Robins.
In a season of highs that night was a rare low point for Askey and his men, who go into the first-round weekend in second place in the league following their Wednesday-night win at Aldershot.
“The Altrincham game will be a pleasant change, it's a nice distraction from the league,” said Askey. “I've never concerned myself with cups that much in the past to be honest but it's a draw that will create interest and probably a decent gate.
“And there aren't that many games in the FA Trophy to get through, if you get a decent draw you can find yourself in the semi-finals and not always against the absolute best opposition.”
Macc have more lengthy travels to come after they go to Alty, with league games at Alfreton Town, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby Town and Kidderminster Harriers taking them through to mid-January. Their only home assignment in that time is the Boxing Day hosting of the Mariners, currently in fifth place.
Home comfort returns on January 20, when the rearranged match against AFC Telford takes place at the Moss Rose.
But, as a fixture list naturally demands, it's one game at a time for the man in the hot seat, who's tearing through the league despite a lack of spending power. And he doesn't intend to look beyond the next instalment of what's been a fine campaign so far.
“I don't think setting a points target for runs of games works, we just put everything into the next game. That's the only mindset we can have,” he said.
“We know we can beat everybody in this league but if we're not at our best then everybody in the league can beat us.”
Meanwhile, Askey's been pleased with the influence of free agent and Malian international Mamady Sidibe on his squad's strike force. The former Stoke City forward has been training with the Silkmen and, although it's unlikely he'll be seen in a Macc shirt, he's given the attackers a welcome boost on the training pitch.
“He's just training with us, I think he's got one or two irons in the fire so we'll see what happens but there's nothing imminent,” Askey admitted. “I think he still needs to get his international clearance sorted out too.
“I think having him train with us is rubbing off on the lads, he's got good quality and a lot of experience and they can learn a lot from having people like that around.
“It's improved training for everybody. He trains well and he does everything right so those looking to cut corners can realise what it takes to get to play at the top level.”
