Norwich vs Walsall - preview: FA Cup tie kick-starts a crazy six days on the road
Mat Sadler will be looking to lead Walsall into the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in his tenure when they travel to Championship strugglers Norwich City on Sunday.
The Saddlers boss has guided them to this stage of the competition in two of his three seasons at the helm - with last season being the only exception when they were downed 4-0 by Charlton in the round prior.
Michael Flynn was the last manager to progress beyond this point in the FA Cup when a last-gasp win at Stockport County set-up a lucrative home draw against then Premier League outfit Leicester City in 2023.
Walsall racking up the miles
Walsall have totted up the miles in this season's FA Cup so far - travelling 300 miles for a 3-0 win at Eastleigh and a further 422 miles to beat Gateshead 2-0.
And off the back of a 10-day break, Walsall are set to trek 642 miles in the space of six days.
After the FA Cup tie at Norwich, they travel to Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday, before heading to Prenton Park to face Tranmere Rovers for a Saturday early kick-off in League Two.
That's as long as none of those fixtures fall victim to the weather, just as their first home match of 2026 against Fleetwood Town did last Saturday.
What that postponement did do is provide Walsall with a much-needed rest after back-to-back league defeats and a run of four games in 12 days over the festive period.
A hectic week of preparations
Snowfall overnight on Thursday has also played havoc with pre-match preparations, as Walsall were forced to close both the stadium and their Essington training ground on Friday.
Since losing 2-0 at Cambridge United on New Year's Day, Dan Cox (who was an unused sub) along with Ryan Finnigan and Jid Okeke (who both started) have been recalled from their loan spells.
In response, Alex Pattison was unveiled as the Saddlers' first new recruit of the January transfer window, after arriving from Bradford City for an undisclosed fee.
The midfielder - who famously scored twice in the Bantams' 3-0 win over Walsall last season - has penned an 18-month deal with the club.
Opponents Norwich will undoubtedly be favourites heading into Sunday's tie, but currently find themselves in the unusual position of slogging it out at the bottom end of the Championship.
Results have improved since Philippe Clement succeeded Ryan Manning following his November sacking, but they still currently sit third from bottom in the table, one-point adrift of safety.
Sadler to make two late injury calls
Sadler has confirmed he will make a late call on Priestley Farquharson (eye) and Jamille Matt (knee), who are both optimistic that they will be fit for the weekend.
Mason Hancock and Harrison Burke (both knee) are nearing returns, but are unlikely to be involved, while Harry Williams (Achilles) remains the only long-term absentee.
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