King's Lynn Town will be hoping to avoid any slip-ups when they make the long trip to south Wales.

The Linnets face Merthyr Town on their 3G surface in their first match for a fortnight – a game they need to get something from to ensure they spend Christmas on top of the table.

With Lynn's games against Gosport Borough and Slough Town falling victim to wintry weather, manager Ian Culverhouse is looking forward to a renewal of the action.

'It has been a frustrating spell,' he told the club's official website,

'The games were flowing nicely, then suddenly the weather turned and we have lost some fixtures.

'People have said to me it's a bit of a trip being so close to Christmas, but believe you me I would much prefer going on the Saturday as to a wet night in January.

'We will travel on the day on a comfortable coach, hopefully do a job, and then jump back on it and come home.

'I have no problem with the situation at all.

'The lads have trained well over the last week or so and maybe the little break may well have freshened some of the lads up a little bit and allowed some knocks and bruises to heal.

'We will be without both Ryan (Fryatt) and Michael (Clunan) so I will have to shuffle the pack a bit and change some things.

'That's what I am paid to do and to date really we have been lucky with injuries and suspensions so again we will take it all in our stride.

'I am expecting a tough fixture with Merthyr and with all of their recent problems off the pitch I am sure that will have further galvanised them on the pitch even more.

'Some players who left them a few weeks back have now returned which will strengthen them further.

'The surface, I am sure, we will enjoy as we do like to try to get the ball down and play so it should be a good contest.'

Both fixtures between the teams ended in 1-1 draws last season with Lee Stevenson being the Linnets scorer on both occasions.

While Lynn are riding high, Merthyr are currently 16th in the table. Lynn have a three-point advantage over Kettering, who are at home to Dunstable this afternoon.