IT HAS obviously been an exciting week for everyone at the club but on Saturday we get back down to the serious business - climbing the league table.

The whole season could be shaped by our results in the next two games and a couple of home wins at Turf Moor would not only put us in the last eight of the FA Cup but within sight of the top six in the first division.

The games will be coming thick and fast throughout March but in the past that is something we have thrived on. If you are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday for a few weeks there is the chance to get some real momentum going.

We have had that before, in our first season back in the first division, and we know that now is the perfect time to get on a roll, starting against Derby on Saturday. Get a win or two and you are suddenly right up the table.

I just hope that I am going to be fit enough to play a full part. It has been frustrating in the past month and you do all the treatment in the week and hope you will be ready for the matches.

The lads gave our play-off hopes a massive boost when they won at Coventry a couple of weeks ago and now we are up against another side that has recently been in the Premiership.

I know it has not gone unnoticed among the fans that we seem to have a good record against clubs that have come down from the top flight and it is something we need to keep going against Derby County.

The win at Pride Park way back in September was our first of the season and the launch-pad for a long unbeaten run. With so many teams between us and the top six, that is what we need now.

That is why there is absolutely no danger of us getting carried away by the prospect of extending our Cup run. It is great that the Fulham game is on the telly but we are not looking any further ahead than Derby.

They have had their problems but none of that is any concern to us, we need to put our own house in order after the debacle against Reading. Our home form had been good prior to that and I still have no idea quite what went wrong that day.

What I do know is that we are determined to make sure it is does not happen again. The defence has been outstanding in the last couple of games and Drissa looks like a real gem uncovered by the gaffer.

Coxy has also come back in and done brilliantly so with Arthur, Skip and Mark McGregor all keen to play, we have a lot of strength at the back.

Of course my big hope is that I will be able to start making an impact myself after my injury problems.