Wrexham have won all four league matches under Saunders and are now eighth in the table, just five points off leaders Kettering with a game in hand.

Without a game this weekend because of their early exit in the FA Cup, the Reds players will continue preparing for next Saturday's trip to Weymouth with a series of gruelling work-outs on the Colliers Park training ground.

And there will be no let-up at Wrexham said Saunders today: "It will be good week or so of intensive training now. I will get the players even more focussed. We have sent a message out to the league that we are coming like a steam train.

"The pressure is on and there is no slacking. The bar at this club has been too low – but I have set it really high.

"That is the only place I know where the bar is. That is the way I have lived my career and I will not lower it. The bar is high and they have to get up to it."

Wrexham go into their break on the back of an extra-time win at Altrincham in the third round of the Setanta Shield on Tuesday.

The reward for that 2-1 victory is a home tie against Conference North highfliers Southport in the last 16, with the tie likely to be played the first midweek in December.

And Saunders was pleased Wrexham overcome Altrincham when they were below their best to seal a fourth round berth: "It is a home draw which is good,"he said. "But it is further in my mind because we have got a lot of other games before then.

"I was disappointed Tuesday but 99.9 per cent of them were having a go. They were trying to win the game, and I want to see us win when we are not playing well."

Saunders, who announced his intention to trim the Reds' squad earlier in the week, has allowed two players to go out on loan.

Not short of options in the centre-back department, Saunders has let Darran Kempson join Forest Green Rovers and Nat Brown go to Macclesfield.

Both have joined on one-month loan deals and are eligible for their clubs' FA Cup games this weekend.

Macc boss Keith Alexander was delighted to capture Brown after the pair worked together at Lincoln.

Brown goes straight into the squad for The Silkmen's trip to Harlow Town with Alexander saying: "Nat's a confident lad with a lot of ability and presence. He's also versatile and can play in the centre of midfield as well, so he will certainly give us extra options.

"And the fact he knows some of the lads in the squad already is a big help and I know he'll fit in well at the Moss Rose."

Neither Kempson or Brown have featured in recent weeks and Saunders has urged other players currently out of the reckoning to keep fighting for a place in the team.

"At the moment the reaction from all the players not playing has been top class," said Saunders. "They are all striving to get in the team and that's what I want.

"I want them to get up to the bar and compete for their place."

Saunders is eager to free up places in the squad so he can bring in more new fresh faces.

But a number of players who have been on trial at Wrexham will not be coming in on-loan.

Saunders has informed Senegalese striker Daniel Bocande – a free agent – and Manchester City full-back Sam Williamson that they will not be offered deals; while frontman Chad Bond has already returned to Swansea City after training with the Reds.

"There are only so many players I can bring in so I have to make sure they are the right ones," said Saunders who has not ruled out trying to bring in midfielder Joe Allen for another loan spell.

The Welsh under 21 international's first loan stint from Swansea City was cut short after just two games when he picked up an ankle ligament injury in training.

"I would be interested but Joe is still injured and he might be out for a couple of weeks," added Saunders. "It was bad luck because Joe played very well in those two games, and we won them both. It was more disappointing because Andy Fleming got injured at the same time."