Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admits that the winter break cannot come quick enough for his weary players.
The Scottish champions go into tomorrow's home game with Dunfermline just a point behind Rangers as the title race hots up.
But the season comes to an end for nearly a month after their trip to Aberdeen on January 2nd.
Many are against the idea of a winter shutdown, but the Celtic manager and his players cannot wait for their trip to Florida after a gruelling schedule of games in Scotland and in Europe.
"The winter break coming up can't come soon enough," said O'Neill. "These two big games coming up are so important for us.
"The way the season is panning out there is relatively little time for a break, but I accept that is happening in football generally.
"Here we start the season early and the side which wins the league is playing in a couple of Champions League qualifying games and you're trying to get mentally and physically tuned into those.
"It is demanding. Two years ago the experience of the break was delightful.
"Some of the players felt that the breaks in the previous years had an effect and they came back and started sluggishly. I still think they are good for us.
"Everyone feels the same. I spoke to the Hearts lads and everyone wants to get that break, but you can never afford to look forward to it until it's actually upon you."