Salford City will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to eight straight games when they travel to Nantwich Town on Saturday, kick off 3pm.
While on face value it may seem like a dead rubber for both teams, there is pressure on The Ammies to win in order to secure home advantage for the forthcoming playoffs.
Nantwich are a comfortable ninth but have little left to play for this season.
As things stand Salford won’t hit automatic promotion out of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier, but will compete in the playoffs.
They could face a semi-final against Ashton United at home and Moor Lane could also play host to the final – if Blyth were to lose to Stourbridge.
The highest placed team in the playoffs earns the right to play the final at home.
However, if the local outfit was to slip up, then it could potentially force them to play the semi-final and final (should they make it) away from home; this against teams that will be looking to claim the biggest scalp in the league at the most crucial time of the season.
While Moor Lane is not quite yet a fortress, Salford’s home form has improved in the latter half of this season. After a sluggish start Johnson and Morley’s men have now not lost in six, while Nantwich have lost their last two away.
The Ammies go in to Saturday’s match slight favourites having earned a crucial point in Cheshire on 5 January.
John Johnston and Josh Hine have both become imperative to Salford’s set up but Hine is still out injured.
SAlford will miss him in the attacking line-up; since joining to ease The Ammies’ injury crisis in January, the former Chorley player scored five goals and had five assists since his debut game against Buxton.
Salford City will also be familiar with Dabbers midfielder Josh Hancock, who trained with the club in pre season before joining Nantwich.
The midfielder put in a man of the match performance in the Cheshire side’s win against former play-off chasers Workington on Tuesday.
Main image: Charlotte Tattersall/@SalfordFCPhotos
