Exeter City manager Matt Taylor has said he was pleased that 'some of the players put the hand up for selection this weekend' ahead of Saturday's West Country derby at Bristol Rovers.
A much changed City side played out a highly entertaining 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town in the Jersey Mike's Trophy on Tuesday night. On reflection Matt said: "That was a winning performance. We created enough in the second half to win the game comfortably, but because we'd had to chase it in the first half, it meant the margins were fine.
"A couple of decisions didn't quite go our away. And then obviously penalties becomes a little bit of a lottery. So a positive evening because of the way the players took on the instruction after time and really executed in the second half.
"That's the best we've been as a team this season in terms of our attacking play and our intent and our mindset towards the game and the way we moved as well.
"I was really pleased with how some of the players stood up and were counted in the second half and put the hand up for selection this weekend."
City head to the Memorial Stadium on Saturday looking to take the best bits from Tuesday night and to push for a first away win since the end of January. Speaking ahead of the trip, Matt said: "We would like another encounter like the past ones. An entertaining game of football. It is all set up for another entertaining game, isn't it? A team bang in form at home, a team with goals in them.
"We know where we're at the moment. We know where we need to improve some real quality on the show for the opposition, a couple of familiar faces. I think it's going to be a sell out. I might be right in saying there's no tickets available, so the atmosphere will be the best we've seen this season that the players have played in front of us so far this season probably will do this whole season, and it's your toughest test away from home.
"We're grateful that it's not a long journey in there, and our fans will go in great numbers and in good voice, but we've got to repay that with the performance that says we're there to win the game."
Watch Matt's full view below: