Mark Robins says his Scunthorpe United side are "champing at the bit" ahead of Tuesday’s FA Cup Third Round tie with Chesterfield.
Without a game for nearly two weeks, the Irons host their League One counterparts as they prepare to fight it out for a trip to Derby County in the next round.
"I think they are champing at the bit to get back out there," Robins said in his pre-match press conference.
Scunthorpe United v Chesterfield
The FA Cup Third Round
7.45pm, Tuesday 6 January
Glanford Park
Winners receive £67,500 from prize fund
"Players want to play and training is a means to an end. We have been ticking over, but we haven’t been able to get on grass, just indoor on the astroturf, which is not ideal.
"It was a shock that we had snow [for the Sheffield United postponement] and it was disappointing to have that game called off. Knowing we were not going to have a game on 3 January because of the Chesterfield and MK Dons situation was doubly frustrating. It gave us a bit of time and the players have had New Year off so now I expect them to repay us."
With no game of their own, Robins and his staff were in the stands on Friday to watch Chesterfield defeat MK Dons, and he knows his men face a tough task this evening at Glanford Park after what he saw.
"We went to the game and saw two decent teams playing in a decent cup tie and Chesterfield deservedly came out on top. I thought they played well and, having won in the first place, it must have been a difficult situation for them.
"Whoever we would have faced, they were always going to give us a stern test. Chesterfield will prove a real handful," he told Irons Player.
"It will be a great cup tie, I believe they are bringing 2,000 supporters. Their supporters are excellent and they get behind their side and they will be delighted to be in the Third Round and hopeful they will progress."
He added: "Playing under floodlights always makes it extra special, when I played I always enjoyed the evening games under floodlights and it is slightly different not to be playing in The FA Cup on a Saturday but you have to be ready and we are looking forward to it."
