This weekend gives Barrow AFC a break from National League action, but the players’ intensity during tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie against FC Halifax Town won’t drop, according to manager Ian Evatt.

The fact that the Bluebirds will be facing a fellow side from English football’s fifth tier at Holker Street means that the tie won’t represent too much of a break from the norm anyway.

But the carrot of a Wembley final will add an extra incentive for AFC, who are very keen to go on a good cup run this season after their disappointing loss at Chorley two months ago ended their participation in the FA Cup early.

They should go into the match against the Shaymen with a spring in their step, having revived their league campaign recently by winning three out of their last four games.

Evatt said: “We go into every game trying to win, there’s no two ways about that.

“It gives us a bit of a break from a busy and difficult Christmas period, but it would be nice to have a run in the FA Trophy.

“It’s nice to get cup runs for the fans to cheer about and it’s a chance to play at Wembley, which is never to be underestimated, so we’ll be going all-out to try and win the game.

“There will be opportunities for lads to come in and get some minutes and show me what they’re about again.

“The lads that haven’t really been featuring in the last three or four games will be given an opportunity and it’s up to them to take it.”

This is Barrow’s second match with Halifax this season and they’ll be hoping for much better luck this time than in in the previous meeting in August.

Not only did the Bluebirds lose 2-0 at The Shay, but they also lost centre-backs Brian Wilson and Matt Elsdon to injuries that kept both out for substantial periods (Elsdon still hasn’t played for the first-team since).

Evatt said: “Every game is very difficult when you’re facing National League opposition – they are big, strong, physical and direct, which most teams are in the National League.

“They’re a big danger from set-pieces – their two centre-halves are very dangerous – so we need to be able to cope with that and match that.

“I think we’ve come a long way since we played them earlier on in the season and we’ll be hoping for a better result.”

Evatt has also provided an update on midfielder Jason Taylor, who had four of his teeth knocked out by a stray opposition elbow during the first half of last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Maidstone United.

Although, his jaw wasn’t broken by the collision, the 31-year-old has not surprisingly been some way off from being 100 per cent in the aftermath.

“Obviously, when you get four of your front teeth not out, it’s not ideal,” Evatt said.

“It’s a cosmetic injury, so the only problem is that he’s been a hell of a lot of pain with it and he’s been unable to eat some solid food.

“That means, energy-wise, he’s lacking, but he went to the dentist on Tuesday and again yesterday, so hopefully they’ll be able to sort that out pretty quickly and get some food back down his neck and get some energy rebuilt.

“Whether he’ll be fit in time for Saturday, I don’t know, but certainly for next Saturday [at Solihull] he’ll be fine.”