Newport County play two fixtures in three days over the New Year Period, travelling to play Cheltenham Town on Saturday before entertaining Exeter City on Monday, January 1 (both 3pm).
Only after those crucial League Two fixtures will manager Michael Flynn focus on the Emirates FA Cup tie against Leeds United at Rodney Parade on Sunday, January 7.
Flynn is also weighing up how to strengthen his squad for the big push towards promotion and is looking at all options.
Striker Paul Hayes will be available early in 2018 after his transfer is ratified, while Aaron Williams and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb are due back after loan spells.
Williams, 24, has scored 22 goals for National League North Brackley Town, who are pressing for promotion.
His loan ends on New Year’s Day and he says: “We will see what Newport have to say about the loan in the New Year.”
Brackley manager Kevin Wilkin wants to keep Williams in his team and says: “Aaron is a poacher and outside that he works extremely hard for the team.”
Former Cardiff City full-back Barnum-Bobb, 22, finishes his loan spell at National League Torquay United on January 7.
Forward Joe Quigley leaves County in the first week of January at the end of his loan and heads back to Bournemouth.
Flynn is also keen to bring in new players and if they can earn some reward against Championship club it would boost any transfer funds he has available.
Newport’s final opponents of 2017 are Cheltenham and their manager, Gary Johnson, is keen to add three new loan signings to his squad in January.
One of them will be Rotherham United defender Emmanuel Onariase, while Goalkeeper Jon Flatt has returned to Wolves and forward Freddie Hinds will return to parent club Bristol City.
Defender Taylor Moore and midfield player Joe Morrell are likely to stay at Whaddon Road from Bristol’s Ashton Gate.
Daniel O’Shaughnessy is set to join HJK Helsinki in his native Finland and Johnson wants two new signings as he works to build a squad capable of lifting Cheltenham into a play-offs challenge.
“I want to keep a couple of our current loans,” says Johnson. “Loans are probably all we can do, otherwise you are bringing in someone who is doing well for another club and they are going to cost you a transfer fee.
“Then you have to bring them in and pay them through the summer, so I have to add three loans who can help us to go with the two I’ll be keeping around.”
Cheltenham’s 2-0 defeat against Yeovil Town left them 15th in League Two, eight points off the play-off places and 10 clear of the relegation zone.
“That game sums up our inconsistency,” said Johnson. “The quality of our shots and crosses, corners and set plays were all poor.
“They have been bad before, but that was extremely poor.
“It’s all down to the quality of the balls in.”