Caretaker manager Pete Wild is expecting a difficult game this weekend as Oldham Athletic travel to Macclesfield Town in the Sky Bet League Two fixture.
Macclesfield have dragged themselves off the bottom of the table and Wild believes that they have turned around their fortunes in recent weeks.
“The one thing I will say about Macclesfield is that they don't play like a team second bottom of the league.” He said.
“They've been very games we've watched of them in recent times and the results show that in the last three games.
“It'll be a really tough test, they're a team who are really organised and they'll look to make it difficult on their own meadow.”
The man responsible for their turn in form is down to former Arsenal and England international Sol Campbell.
Campbell has taken the club up a place to 23rd and just three points off safety and Wild was respectful of the work the Macclesfield manager has done so far at the club.
“He's been excellent, anybody who goes into management it's such a tough job, so I have the upmost respect for anyone who goes into management.” He commented.
“He's getting a gig out of them, they're playing a lot better, they're a lot more organised and tougher to play against.
“Throughout his career he's played under some top managers, so maybe he's taking that into his team already.”
As for Latics, they come into the game off the back of a useful point at home to Forest Green Rovers last weekend.
Since Wild took over in his caretaker role, he’s had to prepare quickly for games, but he says this week he’s been able to get a few more things across to the players in training.
“It's been our first full week of training that we've had.
“We've managed to get over some thoughts and opinions over to the players with a full week on the training ground, so hopefully we're prepared for Saturday.
“It's been about reacting to the next game over the Christmas period to early January whereas this week it's been a chance for us to tweak a couple of things.
“We've had a chance to get mine and Chris' performance module across to people to how we want to play, but we've had that chance this week and hopefully it'll be evident on Saturday.”
Wild revealed after the Forest Green game that striker Chris O’Grady suffered an injury that will keep him out of Saturday’s game.
The club are hoping to bring in a couple of players before the game with Macclesfield and Wild confirmed that there is one player back in training.
“The only significant return would be Cameron Dummigan who's back on the grass today.
“He won't be match fit for Saturday, but we'll see how he is after training tomorrow and decide whether he's in the squad or not.”
Latics are expected to sell out their full away allocation when they travel to Macclesfield on Saturday.
Almost 2000 Oldham fans will be making the short journey, but Wild was quick to reiterate the importance that the supporters have when helping the team.
“Our fan base speaks for itself, almost 2000 again on Saturday for what is effectively a Division Four football club is phenomenal.
“Again, we'll need them to get behind Saturday, it'll be tough, so they need to keep pushing us forward even if things aren't going our way.”