Walsall FC's Dean Smith celebrates three years in charge against Tranmere

The postponement of last Saturday's game with Oldham means Smith's fourth year in charge at the Banks's starts, fittingly, with a trip to where it all began.

In January 2011, the then caretaker manager took a Saddlers team nine points adrift of safety to Prenton Park where they emerged with a 3-3 draw in dramatic style, thanks to Andy Butler's stoppage-time equaliser.

Three years on, they sit seventh in League One, with Smith heralded as one of the country's brightest young managers.

Walsall and their boss have come a long way and it is a desire to maintain this momentum which has Smith firmly focused on the months and years ahead.

"I think you have to look ahead for the club," he said. "You have to be ahead of the game and you have to keep progressing.

"We never lose sight of the next match, but you have to plan for the future.

"Over the last 12 months I have been able to really start planning and looking at the team for next season already. That is a credit to the chairman and the board."

If Walsall continue to climb, 2014 will be a year to savour. There is no question 2013 was a fine year for the Saddlers, as the late season surge in form was carried into the first half of the current campaign.

Smith's men picked up 73 points in the calendar year and their record of just nine league defeats was the best in the Football League.

"It was a really good year," said Smith. "My first season was trying to survive, which we managed to do. The second season was about being hard to beat, which we did as we ended up drawing 20 games in that season.

"We certainly progressed last year. The club implemented a philosophy that we are trying to carry on and progress. We were pushing toward the play-offs at the end of last year and I think we have put ourselves in a good position to do so again this year."

Tranmere isn't just where things began for Smith the manager but also the first opposition of the current campaign. The 3-1 opening day win against Rovers at the Banks's ranks among the Saddlers best performances of the season and the club's respective campaigns have mirrored that result. Walsall have stayed in the top half of the table with Ronnie Moore's men at the opposite end.

But Rovers' recent 1-1 draw with Wolves serves warning of the challenge they will pose.

"They have one of the outstanding strikers in Ryan Lowe who is bang in form and scoring goals," warned Smith. "I went to watch them against Gillingham the other Friday.

"Lowe scored a fantastic goal and could have scored another in the first half."

Smith has a fully-fit squad and some interesting selection decisions to make. James Chambers made his case at right-back by scoring his first ever league goal last time out at Sheffield United, while Troy Hewitt will be hoping to keep his place up front after being handed his first start in three months against the Blades.