Hull City have a manic eight games between now and the New Year, offering a real challenge for the squad to produce performance after performance.
The Christmas period is where the matches take their toll.
There will be a few tired legs amongst the Tigers, and I suspect there'll be less training than usual to keep themselves fit.
With the challenges of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United coming up on Boxing Day, the Tigers will undoubtedly be heavily up against it come the end of 2013.
Starting off with the visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday, I think this will be the first game all season that City go into as favourites.
That brings a different pressure, and with Palace being promoted with City, it's a match the Tigers must have targeted a win.
There is pressure when you take on your Chelsea's or your Manchester United's, but a real dogfight is something City can expect this weekend.
City's home form is something which they need to cement over the next six weeks.
It is vitally important that your form, home or away, is good.
In every game I've seen City play this season, there's not one I've thought they could do better in, which is a credit to themselves and the manager.
I agree with Steve Bruce that the next eight games will be a defining period for his side.
They need to take every game as it comes, and that will be thick and fast.
During my playing days, I remember the Christmas period well – I was mostly sat on the sidelines.
Unbeknown to my manager, I used to get myself booked so much that I would be suspended for the slog of games coming my way at Christmas. I did get a two-week fine when he cottoned on.
I know deep down that players nowadays love the hectic run of games during Christmas.
There's nothing better than playing 90 minutes, and I'm sure the squad would rather be playing than training.
From a player's welfare point of view, it does seem a bit stupid to cram all those games into such a short period of time.
When you think of it, although City are playing less games than last year, they are playing them at a much higher intensity.
I feel for the fans who want to travel to away games, clocking up hundreds of miles a week, with successive away games against Arsenal and Swansea on the in the space of five days.
Times are hard for fans as it is, and attendances may suffer over Christmas, but there will be the die-hards who will not miss a game, and that's what City need.
With Sone Aluko being the only long-term absentee for City, they are very lucky to be having a near full-strength squad to choose from going into the latter stages of 2013.
Many teams would love to be in the Tigers' injury position, and what a position to be in.
There are 24 points up for grabs before the end of the year, and I think Bruce will have in his mind what his perfect tally will be.
Yes, he'll want all 24, but realistically, a target of 10 would be fantastic for City.
Wins against Palace, Fulham and Swansea are do-able, and anything after that will be a bonus.
Lots of points will be up for grabs, and if City can manage three or four wins over the next eight games, it's a job well done.
City will be delighted if they can leapfrog some of their rivals in the table, but they need to overcome a struggling Palace first.
The hardest thing for the players now is to keep fresh and fit, without getting ahead of themselves.
Bruce will have his formations and squad rotation on his mind.
Strength in depth is what is needed at this time of year.
With the likes of Robbie Brady hopefully fit this weekend, it's an exciting time to be a City fan.
The international break will have been welcomed by many of the squad to refresh themselves ahead of the next eight games.
The Tigers can be quietly confident of a victory this week, and I'm predicting a 3-0 scoreline.
