Shrewsbury v Wrexham: Gareth Ainsworth previews his first cross-border derby

Seven days ago things were quiet in Shropshire. Charles Sagoe Jr had been the first Shrewsbury player to leave the club in the January transfer window - but aside from that, there was little to report. 

Fast forward a week, and few could have predicted what has followed. 

Jordan Rossiter has gone to Oldham, Josh Kayode has returned to Rotherham while Harrison Biggins has returned from his loan. But the headline news is Town have sold their talisman Tom Bloxham to League One rivals Blackpool.

There is speculation about the future of Shrewsbury's captain Carl Winchester - the Shropshire Star understands Derry City are interested in the skipper. 

It has been an unsettling period for Town as they head into one of the biggest games of the season against their local rivals - who are third in the league table. 

However, there could be a new face in the squad after Callum Stewart made a switch from non-league Leamington yesterday.

It will be the first cross-border derby for Salop head coach Gareth Ainsworth, and he says his side will have a plan in place to beat Phil Parkinson's high-flying team. 

"Excited, it's under the lights, on Sky, I can't wait for it," Ainsworth said about the clash. "It's going to be a big game, and this is why you're a footballer - this is why you're in the game. For moments like this, for games like this, it's exciting.

"They are obviously the noisy neighbours coming to the Croud Meadow, and we don't want to make it easy for them.

"We want to make it difficult for them, so we're preparing to put a plan in place. But also, we're very aware of where they are in the league - what players they've recruited, what they are in this league. 

"They are a very powerful side, they have spent a hell of a lot of money getting where they are. 

"So we're going to have to be at our best to compete with them.

"It's going to be my first cross-border derby with Wrexham, and I know that's big for the fans.

"When I walk around the town, a few of the fans say as long as you beat Wrexham.

"I know how much this game means to them, and we'll be giving everything, believe me."

In Ainsworth's first game in charge of Shrewsbury, they welcomed Birmingham City to the Meadow - the current league leaders - and they turned them over.

And while that was a brilliant result, arguably the high point of a challenging season so far, the boss says they must look forward, not back.

"We don't want to keep looking back to Birmingham," he continued. "It was a great occasion, but you can't rest on those laurels and keep saying we did that. 

"It's the future, it's always the future.

"I'm looking forwards, you know, we're looking at Wrexham, we're looking at what we can do. They're a very strong side, they've got some household names in their team. They've been linked with ridiculous names."