Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver is eagerly-anticipating Tuesday's game at home to Hinckley in Blue Square North, their first since mid-December.

"The biggest feeling is one of excitement," he told BBC Radio York.

"We've got a lot of new signings and we've been paying their wages for about five weeks just to do running for us.

"2010 is a brand new start for us and it's a new start for all the players, and the new ones will be hoping to make a really good first impression."

Town entered the Big Freeze bottom of the table, but emerge from it one place higher, as Vauxhall Motors lost over Christmas to go below Town on goal difference.

It's at home against good opposition so the pressure's on them and we can see where we're at. Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver

"That's a psychological boost," added Weaver, who admitted to switching off the league tables when the bottom half of Blue Square North came on because of his embarrassment at their position.

"It hurts your pride. If you care so much about it, then it will affect you. Even to be second-bottom is better than the last position."

Strikers Jason Bradley and Peter Knox, and midfielders Lee Bennett, Ben Muirhead and Martin Foster, will be hoping to make their debuts.

Weaver is expecting good things from Foster: "He's an influential midfielder, he went up as captain of Tamworth last year, he's a playmaker."

Weaver's selection will be influenced by a practice game on Doncaster's all-weather pitch, and also on gym work during the enforced break.

"I did record some fitness results around the period. You have to have a look seriously at things like that," he added.

"I'm really looking forward to the game and I'd rather it's at home against good opposition, so the pressure's on them and we can see where we're at."

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