Sincil Bank is sold out and a stellar line up on the pitch.

Of officials that is with Mike Dean the man in the middle, the powers that be finally realising that we do have big games in league two and it’s probably best not to have some no hoper in charge.

I don’t know about you but for me this game has to take its place in the general scheme of things. You can’t ignore the fact that tickets were snapped up some time ago, both sets of supporters eager to see the derby but in terms of importance it’s three points no more or less than any other game.

Having said all this it should be a cracking game with a pulsating atmosphere. We may not be neighbours on particularly good terms, at least as far as the fans are concerned but one thing you can say is that as a crowd we will have to be on our mettle as their supporters make a fine old racket. Must be all that sea air and fish and chips.

Michael Jolley has done a good job steadying the ship and that has been marked with the manager of the month award so as good a time to play them as any. I’ve not heard any of that long ball Lincoln nonsense from the Mariners supremo either and that’s to his credit so, yes, I’m looking forward to the derby but then again I look forward to every game.

City’s research and development arm finally swung into action this week with new signings arriving. For me the capture of Cian Bolger says two things. Danny Cowley is planning for league one and Bolger thinks he’ll be playing in it next season. So do I and the reason is two fold. Shay McCartan is staying for the rest of the season and Danny Rowe is coming in for a second spell at the club. If he can be got fit and is anything like his old self he’ll be a big asset.

There’s a bit of me that sees some of these marquee signings so loved by some clubs and feels a teeny bit jealous. However there’s more to constructing a winning team than splashing the cash, look at some of the supposed big name transfers that didn’t work out? Compare that to the Cowleys patient approach, one that looks to the future but at the same time recognises the hard reality of where City are as a club. I’m confident I’ll still have a team to support in the future at a good level. You only have to look at Notts County to see that a large financial outlay and a big name manager counts for nothing at this level. Surely Magpies are not due to suffer the same fate as that other fallen giant, Stockport County? I wouldn’t wish that on Notts and if I’m honest I’d sooner the likes of Grimsby Town picked up the baton and followed the Imps out of league two provided of course that is our destiny but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

So there we are then, big game, big atmosphere, big time referee. Big result please, that would do very nicely.