DENIS SMITH today revealed just how focussed he is on bringing Wrexham some early festive cheer at Carlisle United.

Wrexham head up the M6 tomorrow knowing a win will put them back in the play-off zone - and perfectly placed for the hectic five games in 13 days Christmas programme.

"I went to the cinema last night and had something to eat before the game at the pizza place next door," said Smith. "I was chatting to one of the waiters and was asked who we'd got on Boxing Day and I couldn't tell them straight off. I said I think it's Rochdale.

"I'm not bothered about Rochdale, Shrewsbury or that other team down the road, Chester, I'm only concerned about Carlisle. That's how I operate and it's the only way to do it."

Smith's plans to take on the high-flying Cumbrians have been hampered by injuries to key players, in-form striker Lee McEvilly and defensive stalwart, Dennis Lawrence.

Lawrence has put all the World Cup hype to one side as he fights to be fit for tomorrow's game.

With 2006 offering so much for the man whose goal put Trinidad and Tobago in the World Cup Finals, Lawrence, is keen to make it a double celebration by sealing promotion with Wrexham before he jets off to Germany in May.

The 31 year old defender will have to cope with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Peter Crouch in their Group B encounter in Nuremberg on June 15, and he said: "I've always been a big fan of Brazil so would have loved them, but you can't ask for better than England."

"The Wrexham fans have been telling me for the past month that we'll probably draw England -they'll be delighted!

"Everyone's been talking about England since the draw, but you can't forget there are two massive teams in Sweden and Paraguay in there as well.

"It's up to us to do the country proud and that's what we'll do.

"If you play in a World Cup you know you've got to go up against the best and England are certainly one of them.

"Obviously we have to accept we are the underdogs, but it's up to us to do the country proud and that's what we'll do. We want to prove people wrong. We will try our best and hopefully cause some problems."

Meanwhile the results of a scan on McEvilly's foot injury were expected today, while Lawrence hasn't trained all week because of a painful rib injury.

"Dennis has done tremendously for us but he's been out before and we've coped without him," added Smith. "With all the injuries we get here, you learn to cope and we've got other plans we're working on if Dennis and Lee don't make it."

Teenager Mike Williams is poised to fill Lawrence's boots, while if McEvilly's injury is a stress fracture, then Smith says Dean Bennett, Robbie Foy, who scored a last minute leveller against Notts County last Saturday, and veteran Paul Warhurst are in the frame.

Warhurst, Jim Whitley, Shaun Pejic and Andy Holt all played for the reserves on Wednesday and that's good news for Smith.

Wrexham will definitely have to face one of League Two's in-form strikers in Karl Hawley and Smith will want to keep him and the Carlisle faithful quiet.

"They're one of the biggest clubs - crowd-wise -in the division," said-Smith.

"They get great support, they play 4-4-2 and like the other two clubs who have come out of the Conference and gone up the leagues, Doncaster and Yeovil, they like to pass the ball around."

Carlisle boss Paul Simpson today spoke of his relief that 15-goal top scorer Hawley will not require hernia surgery.

Simpson said there were now two possible courses of action for the in-form striker — one being a fortnight's rest and the other an injection which would clear up the problem after a couple of days.

Simpson said: "It will get sorted out and the important thing is to get the timing right for Karl.

"But this is good news for us and Karl and he will be fine for the Christmas period."