PRACTICE hasn't made perfect in the past so it is understandable that Dean Keates is reluctant to train on artificial pitches every day ahead of this weekend's trip to high-flying Harrogate Town.

The Reds have never won a competitive fixture on a 3G playing surface with matches away at Sutton, Maidstone, Bromley and Harrogate failing to end in three points over the last few seasons.

That is despite training on local artificial pitches in the run-up to games so Keates, looking to build on Saturday's 3-0 home victory against Woking, feels some preparation time on the grass will be just as beneficial ahead of Saturday's clash at Wetherby Road.

"We prepare properly so we train on it," said Keates.

"I asked the players after the game on Saturday, do they want to prepare on it all the way through the week or do we want to stay on grass?

"Harrogate, Bromley or anybody else who plays on it, just because they are playing on grass the following Saturday, do they go away from the 4G? I wouldn't have thought they do.

"First and foremost at 3pm when the referee blows that whistle, it is who wants it the most and we wanted it the most on Saturday."

Keates, who has seen inconsistent Wrexham follow-up victory with defeat in recent weeks, is looking to build on the Woking win which leaves the 18th placed Reds two points above the relegation zone.

But performances in training this week will also determine who plays against Harrogate.

“Standards have been set, the bar has been set. The only way from now on is that it has to start going higher,” said Keates.

“The players who got the shirt at the weekend gave themselves a real opportunity to keep the shirt for the Harrogate game.

“As I said to the players after the Aldershot disappointment, everybody gets judged on the work-rate from Monday to Friday as they always did, but now the demands are even higher.

“They have to give me and the football club what I want Monday to Friday to make sure they get the opportunity to go and play on a Saturday.”