Dale, you must be looking forward to the big derby?

The atmosphere will be unreal, I played in one last season and we won 1-0 and that was fantastic, but the rivalry's just immense when you get out there.

Do you need much geeing up from the manager?

Personally I don't, I just see it as any other game but the fact that the teams are separated five or ten miles gives it that extra spice.

In distance and also in league as well, you're that close and with the playoffs in mind that gives even more spice.

That's the thing, it's going to be a real good atmosphere and a good intensity game but hopefully we'll come out with a victory.

Before a game like this, what's it like in the dressing room, is it like any other game?

It is just like any other game but the lads will be just buzzing because of the rivalry and that everyone just really enjoys it.

And given that there is that closeness, both Northamptonshire teams is there some friendships amongst the teams?

I don't really know anyone other than Nathan Abbey and Marcus Kelly who have obviously played here before so it'll be good to see them again and get one over on them.

Coming up against them, what will it be like pre match, will there be a bit of banter or will you stay out of each other's way?

Yeah there will be, Nathan came here and we got on pretty well and Marcus as well so there will be a bit of banter before the game but when we get into the game we'll just be really looking forward to it.

It's crunch time now in the Blue Square Premier and a run of games that will hopefully see the Diamonds in the playoffs, was that Oxford result a knock to the players?

I don't think it was, I think it was a bad decision by the referee, the lads gave everything and I thought we did well but it's a shame the game on Saturday at Mansfield, I think it would have been a good chance to turn things around but hopefully we can do that on Saturday.

Looking at the fixtures you've got left, has the management given you any kind of points target of where they want to be in terms of results?

Not really, just start off where we left off, I think in the last eight games we've won six, drawn one and lost one which is pretty good, we started a run going but we've got some tough games coming up but hopefully we can get some points on the board and keep pushing on.