WREXHAM will head north to the Cumbrian coast on Saturday and manager Dean Saunders looks likely to be on the team bus as it travels up the M6 towards the Lake District.
Despite the sad family events of midweek, Dean will once more return to the dugout, after missing Tuesday's encounter with Northwich Victoria at the Racecourse to be at his father's bedside.
The Wrexham team will wear black arm bands as a mark of respect at Borough Park tomorrow, as they face the Workington Reds in the third round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.
Missing from the line-up, for a second successive match, will be centre half Ashley Westwood, who although suspended against the Vics was also suffering with a groin strain.
Still not fully fit, the former Manchester United defender will be given more time to recover, before what will be a hectic last few months of the season.
Coaches Terry Darracott and Brian Carey have overseen training this week and some 23 players will be on the coach as it pulls into Workington ready for tomorrow's kick-off.
Ghanaian international Christian Gyan (pronounced Christian John) could well be handed his debut, following a place on the bench against Vics and then scoring twice in a practice match on Thursday.
Christian will be staying with the club for the rest of the season, as will winger Jon Brown, who today signed a long-term loan that will come into effect on Monday, before the transfer window closes.
It will also be interesting to see if Patrick Suffo gets a start in attack, after he coolly despatched his late penalty to salvage a point this week.
Meanwhile, Workington boss Darren Edmondson reckons his star strikers Gareth Arnison and Jonny Wright can shine on the big stage tomorrow - and cause a major upset against Wrexham.
Edmondson believes his formidable strike partnership can be the key to firing the home side into the last eight of the FA Trophy when they host Dean Saunders' side at Borough Park.
Arnison and Wright have hit over 25 goals between them this season for their home-town team, and their manager is challenging them to enhance their growing reputations by putting Wrexham to the sword in the biggest game of the season.
Arnison has hit 14 goals and Wright has chipped in with 12 despite a spell out through injury - and he also limped out of their Wednesday night's defeat to Gateshead.
Edmondson said: "Jonny and Gareth are forging an excellent partnership, and they are both very intelligent players.
"The pair work so hard, which is something we stipulated, and it has upped expectation levels of the pair of them.
"There's absolutely no reason why they can't keep on progressing. They could definitely go to a Blue Square Premier team and whether they can go further is up to them.
"They have a key role to play against Wrexham because as well as their goal threat they have to work really hard for the team."
The manager will also be looking to replace skipper Dave Hewson, who was brought down under a heavy tackle as he attacked down the right at Gateshead. He was stretched off the pitch and after an x-ray yesterday confirmed that he has chipped the bone in his ankle.
Ligament damage has also occurred meaning he's sidelined with a similar injury that kept him out for large periods of last season.
Workington's 3-0 second round victory over Barrow has raised hopes that Edmondson's players could pull off another surprise tomorrow and take the scalp of a second Blue Square Premier side.
Edmondson admits his players will take little motivating for tomorrow's clash, which is set to pull in the biggest crowd of the season, with 1,500 expected at Borough Park.
The Reds boss said: "Wrexham will be favourites but we're only four games from Wembley - and that is a massive incentive.
"For lads from Workington to be that close to Wembley is like a dream. The tie is a fantastic stage for the whole squad. We're playing a Blue Square Premier club who should really be a Football league club so it is a huge occasion.
"If we can be at the top of our game and work hard, who knows what could happen."
Express & Star
