ACCRINGTON Stanley are hoping they can be TV stars again - and start the new year off with a much-needed victory.
The Reds have won just one of their last five Conference games but are live on Sky on Monday lunch-time as they make the trip to local rivals and fellow promotion contenders Halifax Town.
The two sides were meant to meet on Boxing Day at the Interlink but it was controversially called off around an hour before kick off because of the freezing conditions and the new home date will be set in the next few days - although it could be as late as February.
So Stanley now go to the Shay keen to get a win to start 2005 on a high - and emulate what they did earlier in the season when they beat high-flying Hereford United in front of the television cameras.
Boss John Coleman does admit, though, Halifax are something of an unknown quantity.
"They are the only side I haven't seen this season," said the Reds boss. "I have had them watched and they are a well-organised side who have done well.
"They have surprised a few teams as they were near the bottom last season but hopefully we can surprise them. As I have always said - our main worry is not the opposition but ourselves and we have a good squad here who are more than capable of beating any team in this division if we play to our best."
After four appearances on television over the last two seasons, Coleman knows there will be no stage fright from his side.
"It doesn't really make a difference to the players although it is good for the club's profile," said Coleman.
The manager knows his side need to end a disappointing run of form which has seen them slip from the play-off places towards mid-table. They have three wins in their last 11 league games.
"We know it isn't ideal but we have been playing well and all we need is to fine tune a few areas. We have slipped down the league but it is so close and a good run can take us right back up there - we just have to make sure we go on it."
He has watched the video of the Gravesend game on Tuesday which finished 2-2 after a controversial late penalty for Fleet and a late sending off for Jonathan Smith for an alleged elbow.
"The video has been inconclusive for Smithy. Jon's gone for the ball but his arm is up. You cannot really see so we probably won't be appealing," said the Reds chief."I think his three match ban will start this weekend which is hard for him."
Defender Steve Halford could come back into the reckoning following his loan spell at Radcliffe while Coleman said his bid to sign a central defender he has been chasing for a while is currently "on the backburner" while the defender ponders his future.
However the Reds chief does think that left back Chris Butler will shake off the ankle injury which forced him off after just 16 minutes in the draw at Stonebridge Road.
Coleman has also had another look at the penalty on 82 minutes where Ged Brannan was judged to have fouled Andy Drury which led to the equaliser.
"It is an absolute disgrace. Ged has slid in and got the ball and when you look around, the players nearest aren't appealing but chasing the ball.
"But what can you do? It didn't surprise me with the decisions that were given all day. They were very strange but you have got to take it on the chin.
"What we have got to do at Halifax is be positive for the full 90 minutes. At Gravesend, we played really well in the first half but then defended too deep in the second half and they got their break, although it came courtesy of the referee.
"We have got to make sure we play well for the full game."
The two stars of the Stanley draw were Steve Jagielka, who got his first goal for the Reds, and keeper Paul Crichton.
"Paul made a couple of decent saves and Jaggers worked his socks off and did the job he was asked to do. Both did well."
With the rest of the Conference playing this weekend, Stanley will know in advance how crucial the win at the Shay is to stay up among the play-off chasers.
