Newport County are ready to kickstart their season against Barnet at Rodney Parade on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).
The Exiles are, without doubt, flying high under the guidance of manager Michael Flynn and his advisor Lennie Lawrence.
County are no longer flirting with relegation and are firmly looking upwards at a possible spot in the play-offs. But Newport need to kick on and put themselves in the mix near the top of League Two.
They take on a Barnet team who are struggling to find form. They are bottom of the form table across the previous six fixtures, picking up only two points. Their last win was against Cambridge early in September.
Flynn will have to change his team from their 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Accrington Stanley with captain for the day Mark O’Brien, Frank Nouble and Padraig Amond all suffering injuries.
He will hope Joss Labadie, an inspirational midfield creator, will be fit, but that is far from certain.
“I’m not too optimistic about O’Brien,” said Flynn. “Frank’s Achilles is tight, he didn’t train last week and I may not train him next week either because the amount of work he did against Stanley was unbelievable. He did not stop all game.
“Podge (Amond) will be alright because it was just a knock, but it’s probably a no for Mark.
“If it was Saturday, then I think we would have a chance to get it iced up and rested up, but I doubt it on Tuesday. I think it will be a bit too much.”
Newport earned a point at Accrington. Frank Nouble fired fired County ahead, while Stanley substitute Mallik Wilks equalised after 88 minutes.
Barnet manager Mark McGhee has only been in charge for a week after taking over Rossi Eames, who has stayed with the club as head of youth development.
They are likely to be without several players for the trip to South Wales.
Curtis Weston, still recovering from a knee problem, is ruled out, while Richard Brindley has a foot injury.
Elliott Johnson and Dave Tarpey complete the players currently in the Barnet treatment room with knee injuries.
Shaquile Coulthirst, 23, is in form for Barnet with nine goals this season.
Newport County, possible: Day; White, Bennett, Demetriou; Pipe, Butler, Tozer, Butler; Willmott; McCoulsky, Amond. Bench: Bittner, Reynolds, Jackson, Quigley, Owen-Evans, Jackson, Rigg, Reynolds.