Luke Oliver wants City to seize the moment and move in on the play-offs.

They currently sit four points adrift of seventh spot going into the holiday fixtures.

Weather permitting, the Bantams are due to play four times in the space of nine days. And Oliver has urged his team-mates to use the opportunity to shoot into contention.

“We’re very confident that a little run will put us well in the play-offs,” said the big centre half.

“The squad might be tested with so many games coming up but that’s what we’re here for. Hopefully in a short space of time we could be surprisingly quite high in the table.

“We’ve been fortunate in that everyone beats everyone else in this league. Although there have been stages in the season when we haven’t been at our best, we’re still not far off.

“We’ve had games when we’ve played below par but we’re still within touching distance. That can only be a good thing and give you confidence for what can be done when you’re at your best.”

Leaders Chesterfield are due at Valley Parade on Boxing Day, followed by clashes with Cheltenham, Lincoln on New Year’s Day and then Bury.

But Oliver is not complaining about such a potentially frenetic schedule.

He added: “We all much prefer to be playing than training. The rests in between games are vital but you can’t pick and choose how you play.

“You’ve got to play each game to the maximum and not look what’s round the corner.

“As soon as you do that, you slip up in the game you’re playing.”

The club are keeping their fingers crossed that the pitch will be deemed playable to face John Sheridan’s high-flying Spireites on Sunday.

Postponements have wreaked havoc with the domestic programme and City have played only once in a month. The extended cold snap has brought new calls for a winter break to be introduced – but Oliver is no fan of the idea.

He said: “You get the big crowds in at Christmas and that’s when clubs probably make the most money. A lot of clubs need that, especially with the financial situation we’re in at the moment.

“As players, we know what’s expected and you’re used to it now. With the weather as it is, we might even get Christmas off but hopefully it will be okay because you want to play Boxing Day.”

* City’s trip to Crewe has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 25.