Stafford Rangers midfielder Tom Thorley believes the festive schedule should be tackled head on as the team embark on a run of four tough games.

Saturday’s trip to unbeaten-at-home Fleetwood precedes the big one – the first meeting in a double header against local rivals AFC Telford, starting at the New Bucks Head on Boxing Day.

Just 48 hours later, relegation rivals Redditch are the visitors to Marston Road, before the 2010 curtain raiser with Telford in town on New Years Day.

Should the points return be negligible, Rangers could well be back in the relegation mire come the turn of the year, as they are still only four points from safety.

But it’s the derby days that will fire up the players and Thorley – who has yet to taste the experience – cannot wait to get the ball rolling.

He said: “It’s not just Saturday, it’s a tough run coming up, so we need to carry on picking up points, but we could do with a win after two draws.

“We are not losing games, so we can take confidence from that, and hopefully take that into the festive period.

“It’s hard not to look at the two games against Telford, they are massive and being local derbies just gives it that little bit more.

“I haven’t played in one yet, so I am looking forward to it. The team will be well up for it, that’s for sure.”