A Welsh derby for Wrexham! Phil Parkinson reveals why Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side are relishing Newport County test

The Red Dragons will be back in League Two action on Saturday when playing host to Newport County. The two sides are meeting for the first time since 2013, with an increased capacity at SToK Racecourse – made possible by the construction of a temporary stand – allowing more fans to catch a glimpse of an eagerly-anticipated clash between Welsh rivals.

Parkinson has his side ready for the occasion, with everybody in North Wales looking forward to the game. He has said: “It's a Welsh derby and when the fixtures came out, I think it was a game everybody was looking at. There's been the excitement of being out of the National League and in this division, and the games we have had so far like Bradford City and going to better stadiums. We are meeting teams we haven't met for a long time and I think the Newport factor is a key one. We haven't played them in the league for a decade and it's one of those games which you can sense the excitement building. Everybody is really looking forward to it.”

Wrexham are heading into a run of four fixtures in 10 days through to New Year’s Day – with Newport, Swindon, Walsall and Barrow all on the agenda. Parkinson added on that hectic schedule: “We are ready for that, we have been preparing for this period. Everybody has got the same amount of games and part of our job as a football manager and a player is to tackle this batch of games head-on in a really positive fashion and that is what we are going to do.”

Wrexham – with Reynolds and McElhenney remaining regular visitors to the Racecourse – sit third in the League Two table as things stand, six points adrift of leaders Stockport and only one clear of the chasing pack that has eyes on the automatic promotion places.