WREXHAM manager Denis Smith has ruled out the fatigue factor as an obstacle to his side's FA Cup aspirations.

Tonight's televised second round clash with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park will provide a third huge test in six days for a patched-up Dragons squad operating at the limits of player availability.

But the Racecourse boss insists there is no better tonic than success, citing successive away wins at Huddersfield Town last weekend and at neighbours Chester City on Tuesday as evidence of the power of positive thinking.

"Winning teams don't get tired and hopefully we'll be able to prove that again on Friday," he said..

"I'm using all the players I've got available at the moment - even roping Andy Dibble into the squad, although he's not quite there yet in terms of fitness."

With more than half his recognised first team injured, Smith has given midfield veteran Scott Green a contract until the end of the season, completing the paperwork before today's impending administration order comes into effect.

His recruitment, together with that of Spaniard Juan Ugarte earlier in the week, has added substance to the depleted ranks and an FA of Wales decision to rescind Hector Sam's three-match ban following last Saturday's Galpharm Stadium dismissal was further welcome news ahead of tonight's match.

Admitting he had no idea yet how the costs of Green's salary would be met, Smith insisted it was a risk he had to take before a recruitment embargo was imposed.

"You'd have to say the introduction of Juan and Scott has made an immediate difference in terms of performance but for how long that will last no one can say. If they both continue to play as they are until the end of the season, it will have been the right thing to do.

"Scott has a record over a number of years of being a decent player at this level but Juan has yet to prove he can maintain his good start. It would be an unbelievable bonus if he turned out to be like Andy Morrell, who had one fabulous season with us.

"Juan has worked hard enough and he's looked good enough to earn his contract but now he has to deliver on a consistent basis."

The Dragons boss said he was not at all concerned that the Spaniard - who opened his Wrexham account with the winner on Tuesday evening - has also picked up two cautions in the past month.

"I like his temperament," he added. "He likes winning and there's nothing wrong with that in my book. If he upsets a few people along the way that's their problem."

The £75,000 television fee Wrexham collect this evening is more than adequate compensation for bringing the match forward but it could be dwarfed by the potential rewards of a plum third round tie against one of the Premiership big guns.

Nevertheless Smith said it was important for his players not to be deflected from the task in hand.

"Last weekend the most important game was at Huddersfield and before Tuesday night the game against Chester was even bigger.

"I had people saying they would forgive anything just as long as we beat them.

"The FA Cup is a major competition and now we are playing Scunthorpe, so it's going to be difficult.

"They have an excellent home record and, even though we've won our last two games our injury problems have not gone away. We have very little cover in terms of defenders. Although with Scott and Juan, we are looking better equipped in midfield and up front.

"Scunthorpe haven't gone top of League Two for no reason. It's because they play good football and score goals, so we have to take that into account.

"But the same could have been said of Huddersfield last Saturday where my same players won. On Tuesday Chester hit the bar so perhaps things are changing in our favour at last.

"Let's hope that's the case because the situation could not get any worse, what with injuries and what's going on off the field."

Smith: It's not fair

WHEN Wrexham resume their League One campaign at home to Stockport County on Tuesday, they will find themselves in a relegation battle following the mandatory 10-point deduction that accompanies a move intoa dministration.

"It's not fair on the players or the fans but we've got to get on with it," said manager Denis Smith. "I'm not convinced the regulation was intended to punish clubs like ourselves particularlys ince, rather than doing anything constructive for Wrexham, it's possibly playing into the hands of the man who owns the club.

"But from a practical point of view as far as I am concerned it means that between now and the end of the season we will have to put together a promotion-form type of run to get ourselves out oft rouble."