It's a weird world we live in. You could have put your neighbour's house on Oldham pulling a win out of the bag at Craven Park last week. Unlikely though it seemed, it just FELT possible.

It does serve us up with the mouthwatering prospect of the derby match of the season. With last year's playoffs still rotting nicely in the memory, it gives Hornets a chance to rectify things somewhat.

But the six-pounds-and-fourpence question is: how will Hornets react to two weeks off?
While Oldham have been gathering momentum, Hornets have been kicking their heels, champing at the bit and no-doubt mixing other metaphors.

On the plus side, it gives niggling injuries chance to heal, players a buffer in which to focus and prepare - and us poor sods fourteen days of nailbiting, shouting at the radio and - this week - tingling anticipation.

It says much for the mindset at Oldham that their greatest concern in the lead up to this game is how big their support will be. The result seems to have taken a back seat to their obsession with outnumbering Hornets supporters two, ten, fifty to one (depending on which gibbering loon you speak to).

But we know that that's a sideshow. Oldham will come on Sunday desperate not to lose. Five-nil? Unthinkable to both sets of fans at the outset of this mammoth season. And, while we pray to whichever god we subscribe to for a favourable outcome, we can't dismiss the Biffs' team spirit which has carried them through, round and over a good few obstacles this last couple of years.

Make no mistake, Hornets will have to be on top of our game to take this one - disciplined, error-free and committed from the first whistle to last. And it WILL be an absolute belter.
Take your favourite game this season, times it by two and add a bit. That's how good this will be.

As always, the Hornets support will be crucial to helping our mighty club progress through this competition. We've been magnificent all season - yeah, we know we're relatively small in number, but for passion, dedication and an ability to raise ourselves when all seems lost, we are amongst the finest - not only in the NFP, but in the game.

From Chairman and players to you and the bloke who sits next to you, Rochdale Hornets as a club has had another quite phenomenal season. And I believe that it's got some way to run yet.

All the hours invested in driving to Barrow, Whitehaven and Hull KR come down to Sunday. It's what we're in it for - big games, against sworn rivals with big prizes at stake.

It's the only game in town this weekend. Be early - I'll see you there.