Cheltenham boss Michael Duff has praised both his own side and Saturday's visitors to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for the impact they've made on League Two this season.
The Robins ended last season 16th in the fourth tier with Port Vale down in 20th, but yet if you fast forward to the current campaign both teams find themselves in the play-off zone heading into the final ten games of the season.
Duff, who led his team to a fifth straight win last weekend at Colchester United, has highlighted the job done by his counterpart John Askey in what will be the two teams third meeting this season on Saturday.
"I think it should be a good game. They'll be going flat out. They'll be looking to close the gap on us," he said.
"It has got tight - particularly the top eight. I think the two teams are probably the two teams that have surprised a few people in most of the league this year because we were scrapping at the other end of the table.
"I think John has done a great job along with Dave Kevan who I know really well. He was the assistant manager at Burnley when I went up there.
"Frank's in there. I gave Frank (Sinclair) a little bit of banter last week but Frank has gone in doing a bit of coaching.
"He's a top man living in the hotel with him and John (McGreal). I gave John all the credit last week because we were playing against Colchester but Frank was just as important.
"You look at the career that he's had - played in Europe, 300 Premier League games. He was another big influence on me because of where I'd come from.
"From where he'd come from playing in Europe from me playing Conference football. He helped me settle as much as anything else so they've done a great job between them."
Watch the full press conference with Duff previewing Saturday's contest above on iFollow, including the manager's insight into an LMA visit to meet with the team behind the Red Arrows on Tuesday.
You can buy tickets for Saturday's game from the ticket office today until 3pm. The ticket office is also open on Friday between 10am and 3pm.
Tickets are also available to purchase online for Saturday's 3pm kick-off.