This is easily the closest derby to predict for a long time. Last year’s Boxing Day meeting started with Ware on 36 points from 17 games (11 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats) whilst Hertford had 20 points from 19 games (5, 5, 9). Maybe the only surprise about our win was that it was by just one goal (2-1).

What a difference a year can make. Ware again have 17 games behind them but their record now is 8 wins and 2 draws giving 26 points. Hertford are also on 17 games with 7 wins and 3 draws just two points behind. After a draw with play-off contenders Biggleswade Town on Saturday, putting your money on a rapidly improving Hertford seems a lot less of an act of faith than it would have done 12 months ago.

So, can Ware maintain their good recent record against their neighbours? It’s a local derby so anything can happen but with injury problems rising again especially in defence it’s going to be a difficult game for the Blues. Also there will be quite a number of new faces who haven’t played in one of these games before. It should be interesting.

As always there’s plenty to read in the match day programme which is available at the gate for £1.50. Included are Paul Halsey's thoughts on the win at AFC Dunstable. It had to be printed before Saturday's game.

Obviously if you live within let's say a twenty mile (30km) radius of Ware you'll be at the match but if you're one of Pete and Symon's avid listeners from further afield you'll be pleased to know that you can catch commentary on the game from 2.55pm at https://www.spreaker.com/show/90minuteslive.

This match is the first in the second century of league derbies between us. Here’s how the first hundred league games went from Ware’s point of view.