Following the recent arctic weather, Vauxhall Motors FC have made arrangements with the match referee for a pitch inspection at Rivacre Park at 11.30am on Boxing Day.

The improvement is the overall temperature of the last 24 hours has given renewed hope that this eagerly-awaited derby will go ahead, but up until Wednesday night, that did look like a forlorn hope.

The forecast for the next 48 hours is for temperature at or just above freezing, so the prospects are looking decidely better than earlier in the week.