The battling Exiles start a trilogy of challenging stops on the road in nine testing days - commencing at Swindon Town's Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow night [20.00] a clash which has attracted the harsh glare of the Sky Sports TV cameras.
A visit to second-place MK Dons follows on Saturday with a trip to Salford City the following Tuesday, clubs, like the Robins, who have genuine promotion aspiration.
Depending on the result of 22nd-placed Shrewsbury game with fellow relegation rivals Barrow tonight [Tuesday] County know three points extracted from this M4 corridor derby with Ian Holloway's Swindon, could lift them off the League Two trap door - for the first time since late September.
Yet Port's display from the goalless draw with rising Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade last Saturday would have inspired all that saw it - more testament to County boss Christian Fuchs insistence that his Exiles' squad has more balance and in-depth options that at any time previously this season.
Former Leicester City Premiership title and FA Cup winner Fuchs is uber confident his warriors can spring a shock against opponents 34 points and 20 spots ahead of Port in the section, saying, "I am very positive when we play teams at the top end of the table. We usually put out a very good performance.
"At Bromley [top-of-the-table] we should have taken something away from there. Same when we played Chesterfield [ a 2-1 home win] we really came out in full swing. I am positive about the next three games."
When highlighted Cambridge United's visit to NP19 Saturday week means County's face top-six opponents over the next four games Fuchs responds, "We showed already we can handle it. It's always a good challenge to play against teams who are high up in the table because you can show yourself what qualities you have and how you compete with them [other teams].
"I have a lot of trust in my players. We want to more than just compete, we want to go in and win the game."
Seven new faces came in at County before the January transfer window slammed shut at 19.00 eight days ago. Austrian Sven Spranger arrived on loan from Scottish Championship St Johnstone and exciting Cole Jarvis was plucked from National North Merthyr Town last Monday.
Earlier in the month, prolific marksman James Crole was snapped up from JD Cymru Premier Penybont, Wales U-21 international winger Tanatswa Nyakuhwa was borrowed from League One leaders Cardiff City, wide man Lewis Jamieson recruited from American club Sacramento Republic. All-action midfielder Harrison Biggins and defensive lynchpin Ryan Delaney has joined County until the end of the campaign from Shrewsbury and Swindon respectively.
Delaney, of course, will be ineligible to play against his parent club in Wiltshire, but Fuchs believes Port have enough in their armoury to damage any rival his men face. Asked if his men are equipped to alter the flow of a game he said, "Yes, I do think we have greater balance now. In every position we have players who can play various roles - we don't lose any quality when we change things.
"Now, we have an issue who we pick. Everybody wants to play, so now we have to see how we balance the team for each game. It's a lovely position to be in. The look of the squad has changed. "
A deep contemplator, ex-Austrian international skipper Fuchs is a gargantuan advocate for patience to be shown in life and on a football pitch.
He explained, "It sometimes takes time for new players to settle. Some come here from longer distances. It does take time for some to get up to speed. Players who weren't in season are in good shape now."
Quizzed if player re-location can cause issues Fuchs said, "A lot, yes! Players are human beings, right? Some are away from their families, there are a lot of circumstances to consider. You come in, you train, you play. There is way more than that comes with a human being. But it's up to us to make them feel welcome, to integrate them. I think we've done that."
There appears no such issue for Welshman Jarvis, 24, travelling the 32 miles down the A470 and east along the M4 from Merthyr to Newport, though - Fuchs sees the powerfully-built utility player as a secret weapon in his arsenal.
The players, who learnt his trade from part-time existences in the Welsh divisions has fitted in seamlessly and Fuchs acknowledged, "I think we saw last Saturday [against Grimsby] what he [Jarvis] can do. He gathered the ball in midfield on the half-turn, went around a player and slipped Spellers [Michael Spellman] through with a pass.
"He is multi-faceted. He can be effective in attack and defence. It's really good to have him on board. He is definitely in contention to start. We have brought players in and it's now a big fight for the jersey. Our levels have increased. Players need to train hard and strong not to let themselves down."
Jarvis fired seven strikes for his Martyrs and Crole bagged 11 goals for Penybont earlier this season, County's attacking options also features, borrowed Leicester raider Nathan Opoku, gifted Spellman while Scouse Ged Garner's dancing feet could cause Swindon huge problems.
Imposing target man Courtney Baker-Richardson is on the cusp of a return, and Crole has already impressed Fuchs, who said, "He [came on against Grimsby and immediately won us a free kick."
Watch the full pre-match interview with Christian Fuchs in the video below.
