CITY want to hit the FA Cup “break” in a play-off position.

After tomorrow’s trip to third-placed Walsall, the Bantams will go a fortnight without league action.

Having forced their way into a play-off position for the first time this season, Phil Parkinson is determined not to surrender any ground.

He said: “It’s a tight league table. As quickly as you get up there, you can just as easily go back down so standards have to be maintained.

“That is the key and that’s why this weekend is so important.

“We get the break after with the FA Cup (against Chesham) so we don’t have a league game for two weeks.

“It’s the end of this latest block of league games, if you like, and the aim is to go into the cup still up there and pushing hard.”

City have not lost in the league since the end of September when they were beaten 2-0 at Colchester, who yesterday sacked manager Tony Humes after a terrible run since.

The Bantams are unbeaten in the nine games from then, taking 21 points to rise from 19th place to sixth. Now Parkinson is calling for another big effort at the Bescot.

Parkinson added: “We’ve had two tough games this week (against Scunthorpe and Coventry) and we’re asking the lads for one hell of a push tomorrow just to go again.

“If we want to be at the top end of this league, we have to be relentless in our performances.

“You look at the top players in the Premier League and they have high-profile Champions’ League games to deal with before they’ve got to be mentally and physically ready to go again at the weekend.

“On a lesser scale, we’ve had big games like Tuesday and now this one and we have to look to produce the same level of determination and desire.”

City are expecting Reece Burke back at training early next week after illness hampered his recovery from a knee injury with parent club West Ham.

Nathan Clarke will continue to deputise at centre half and Greg Leigh is still keeping James Meredith out of the left-back slot.

Parkinson said: “I’m pleased with the way Nathan and Greg have come in. It’s been seamless.

“They are both good players pushing hard to cement a first-team place.

“Once we get into the next couple of months, the depth of the squad in all clubs is going to be tested. Other clubs will pick up injuries along the way.

“We look to run off a tight-knit group of players but you need to have that quality capable of stepping in.

“We’ve got some good options and those options are going to get better over the next few weeks or so.

“It’s been frustrating for Josh Morris in particular but there’s a reserve game coming up (against Wrexham on Tuesday) to get him some game time. The same with Chris Routis.

“We aim to get everyone up to speed and ready for what is another interesting period coming up.”

City drew both games with Walsall last season and Parkinson anticipates another close encounter.

“We know what Walsall are about. You aren’t up there at this stage of the season unless you’re a good team.

“They’ve benefited from sticking with virtually the same group from last year. They hit the ground running as soon as the season started.

“But we are confident. We’ll certainly give Walsall the utmost respect but we are going down there to play like the home team and put in a full-on competitive performance like we always do.”