Scott Goodwin says there will be ‘added spice’ when his Long Buckby team face local rivals Cogenhoe United on Monday.
The sides drew 3-3 at Station Road earlier in January and both will be hoping to secure the bragging rights this time round.
Buckby go into the game on the back of a four-match unbeaten streak, with all of those games ending in draws.
And Goodwin is hoping to end the wait for a league win, which stretches back to December 8, at Compton Park.
He said: “It’s our local derby and we know that they’ll want to rectify the fact they came to our place and drew 3-3.
“There will be a little bit of added spice involved but there’ll be a lot of good football played.
“There will be a few more people at the game than usual and I know my lads are chomping at the bit to get out there.”
The Bucks have not played since the 1-1 draw with Desborough on March 9.
And Goodwin says he’s been like a bear with a sore head as the frustration of life without football has grown.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” said the Buckby boss. “It’s frustrating for everyone involved - managers and players. We’re all just twiddling our thumbs.
“It’s the first time I’ve spoken to my wife on a Saturday and I’m probably doing her head in. I’m like a bear with a sore head.
“I love my wife to bits but she doesn’t know anything about football and she has to listen to me talking about it all the time.
“Having three weeks without football has seen my bank balance go massively down as well via the wife and kids. I’m just praying Monday’s game is on.”
Goodwin has used the recent free time at his disposal to add to his coaching staff and his squad.
He has brought Dan Ainsworth into the managerial setup and snapped up Kettering midfielder Mark Prior.
And he has also been boosted by the news that Louis Dupree and Leo Adams have rejected moves to Wellingborough Town and Desborough Town respectively.
“We had seven-day approaches go in for Louis and Leo, but both wanted to stay,” said Goodwin.
“The fact they want to remain with us shows we’re making progress and it’s satisfying for me and the rest of the players.”
RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
The equation for AFC Rushden & Diamonds this Easter weekend is a simple one.
The promotion chasers need to pick up six points from their games against Oadby and Whitworth or their challenge for a top two place will hit a big obstacle.
That is the view of manager Mark Starmer ahead of what he describes as a “do or die” couple of days.
A scrappy 2-1 victory over Rothwell Corinthians on Tuesday evening has kept the Diamonds in the title shake-up but Oadby, with an eight-point deficit and four games in hand, could derail any thoughts of silverware.
And Starmer is anticipating a good contest, saying: “We know what we’ve got to do and it’s a case of do or die really.
“If we don’t win the game then it will be difficult to go up as I can’t see them losing too many before the end of the season.
“It’s basically a deciding game for us and we want to get six points out of the weekend. It’s as simple as that.”
Oadby got the better of the Diamonds to the tune of 5-1 when the two went head-to-head during the first week of January but Starmer insists they don’t hold any fears for his side.
He added: “They’re a good side but we’re capable of getting the better of them if we perform.
“Their finishing was far more clinical than ours on that day and it’s crucial that we do better in that area if we are to do the business.”
As for neighbours Whitworth, Starmer will turn his attention to Monday’s derby clash once Saturday afternoon is out of the way.
He said: “It’s a busy weekend for us and we know that Whitworth will be another tough game.
“But we have to get what we need from Saturday’s game first.”
Rushden had replaced Sileby Rangers at the top of the division one table with their win on Tuesday, but Glenn Botterill’s men retained top spot with a 2-0 win over Buckingham on Wednesday night.
Sileby are at home again on Saturday when they entertain Harrowby, before their Easter Monday derby date at Spencer - weather permitting!
Fixtures
Saturday, March 30
Reserve Knockout Cup, semi-final: AFC Kempston v Huntingdon.
Premier Division: Boston Town v Cogenhoe, Deeping v Yaxley, Desborough v Irchester, Harborough v Peterborough Northern Star, Huntingdon v Holbeach, Quorn v AFC Kempston, Spalding v Shepshed Dynamo, St Ives v Blackstones, Stewarts & Lloyds v Sleaford.
Division One: AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Oadby, Bourne v Rothwell Corinthians, Eynesbury v Bugbrooke, Northampton Spencer v Raunds, Potton v Burton Park Wanderers, Sileby v Harrowby, Whitworth v Rushden & Higham, Wootton Blue Cross v Thrapston.
Reserve Division One: Bugbrooke v Peterborough Northern Star, Cogenhoe v Desborough, Thrapston v Stewarts & Lloyds, Woodford United v Blackstones.
Reserve Division Two: Burton Park Wanderers v Oadby, Irchester v Bourne, Olney v Yaxley, ON Chenecks v Eynesbury, Rothwell Corinthians v Rushden & Higham.
Monday, April 1
Premier Division: Blackstones v Deeping, Boston v Sleaford, Cogenhoe v Long Buckby, Desborough v S&L, Huntingdon v St Ives, Newport Pagnell v AFC Kempston (midday), Shepshed v Quorn, Spalding v Holbeach, Wellingborough v Irchester (midday), Yaxley v Northern Star.
Division One: Bugbrooke v Buckingham, Harrowby v Bourne, Spencer v Sileby, Olney v ON Chenecks, Potton v Wootton Blue Cross, Raunds v Eynesbury, Rothwell Corinthians v Oadby, Thrapston v Burton Park (midday), Whitworth v AFC Rushden & Diamonds.