CHESTERFIELD tuned up for tonight's vital clash with City at Valley Parade with an extra day off.

Spireites boss Paul Cook gave his players a surprise break yesterday ahead of their visit to a side on the same points total.

"The most important thing for us now is keeping the lads fresh and raring to go," said Cook.

"Results now, wins now, won't half put us in a strong position. With the games ticking down, they become more pressurised for everyone – but not for us.

"I think we've got the ability to play and win games – and if we don't, that's the way it goes.

"Not only have we ensured our status in the division, which is always huge, we can look to the last games and wonder 'what if'."

Any winner tonight will take over from Rochdale in the final play-off spot – and Cook can sense a feeling of deja vu from last season's promotion charge from League Two.

He said: "With eight games to go last year, they (Rochdale) were above us and we were chasing them down. So hopefully we can finish above them this year as well."

Sam Hird's late header against Walsall on Saturday earned the Spireites their fourth win in six games. It was a ragged contest and the central defender expects something similar with City.

Hird said: "It's probably going to be another scrappy one. I've seen their pitch on TV and you know what to expect. We'll approach the game to play football and we have players who can mix it.

"Our next three or four games are massive. After that Easter period, you know if you've got a good chance of going at it or you hold your hands up and say we haven't done enough."