It could be all change at the top of the National League come 5pm on Saturday, as three teams have a chance of reaching the summit, with a derby at The Racecourse Ground seeing two promotion contenders duking it out…

Barrow vs Sutton Utd @15:00

Barrow return to League action having not played a National League game since a draw with Tranmere on 6th January, with last weekend’s match at Guiseley postponed due to a frozen pitch.  The Bluebirds are only four points clear of the relegation zone, with a game in hand on Solihull in 21st, but risk being dragged further into the mire, going four without a League win.  Form at Holker Street has been a problem with only three League wins, and the hosts lost to National League North Brackley Town in their last home game. Visitors Sutton could go top come teatime with a victory and have won two League games on the spin, following last weekend’s victory against Dagenham and Redbridge at Gander Green Lane.  They are also three undefeated in the competition. Form away from home hasn’t been an issue with eight wins from 12 in the division and The Ambers can also look to a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture in September.

Bromley vs FC Halifax Town @15:00

Three wins in the last four National League matches see Bromley a point off the playoffs in 8th,  and visitors Halifax will have to combat a prolific attack which has scored 50 League goals this season, 13 of them coming from the dangerous Louis Dennis.  A frozen pitch put paid to The Shaymen’s home match with Leyton Orient last weekend – in fact Halifax haven’t played a League game since a 0-0 draw with Maidenhead on 6th January.  The visitors are four without a League win and find themselves in 17th, seven points above the drop zone but with a game in hand on Solihull.  They haven’t travelled well with only three away League wins, but can look to winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in September for some hope.

Dagenham & Redbridge vs Solihull Moors @15:00

The Daggers lost away at Sutton last weekend in front of the BT Sport cameras to make it back-to-back League defeats.  They now sit three points off the playoffs and need to pick up form with only five points taken from the last six matches.  John Still’s side are, however, imperious at home with nine wins from 15 National League matches.  Their opponents Solihull have taken three victories from their last four League games, pushing themselves to only four points off safety, albeit having played a game more than Barrow and having significant goal difference to make up. Moors have improved at both ends of the pitch, conceding only three in the last six in the division, and scoring eight in the last four alone.  They have also added to their firepower this week with the signing of Adi Yussuf on an 18 month deal following his Barrow departure.  11 away League points will worry some, but four of those have been picked up in the last two, meaning that fans can be quietly confident in improving on their 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture.

Dover Athletic vs Guiseley @15:00

Dover come into this weekend occupying the final playoff spot.  The Whites have only one League defeat in the last six, getting a win last time out at Boreham Wood, but have been held back by picking up four draws in that run.  Only Wrexham can better Dover’s record of 25 conceded in the 30 League games – that is a worry for a Guiseley side who only outscore bottom markers Torquay in the division.  The Lions have also been porous at the other end of the pitch, conceding the most goals in the division with 52 in 28.  The visitors are nine off safety with a game in hand on Barrow in 20th, but a goal difference inferior to the tune of 22 goals almost counts as an extra point to gain.  They need to pick up points soon, but a run of four without a League win, with three losses, and only nine away points taken this season, suggest that this is probably not the game to do it. However, a 1-1 draw in September’s reverse fixture suggests otherwise.

Eastleigh vs Hartlepool Utd @15:00

Eastleigh are smack bang in the middle of the table and are eight off the playoffs.  However, the run that they have been on since Andy Hessenthaler took charge of The Spitfires suggests they can crash the top seven, with seven undefeated in the division, 15 points taken and now three consecutive League wins.  They are a little draw heavy at home though, with eight from 15 National League matches.  Visitors Hartlepool are facing a survival fight on and off the pitch.  With three points picked up from the last six games, The Pools are only seven points clear of the drop-zone.  It is now 10 without a win in all competitions following Tuesday’s draw with Chester.

Ebbsfleet Utd vs Boreham Wood @15:00

A battle between two sides just outside the playoffs, Ebbsfleet come into the fixture five points away following five from the same number of games.  Home form has been a strength with only three League losses, seven wins and five draws.  If only they could convert away draws into wins, The Fleet may be higher. Boreham Wood will be looking for a measure of revenge, having lost the reverse 1-0 in September, and will be looking to climb back into the playoffs, sitting only one point off 7th.  A loss at home to Dover last weekend ended a four game unbeaten League run, but a record of only two League defeats in 18, and just two losses away from home in the division tells the tale of a side who will be difficult to beat.

Gateshead vs Maidstone Utd @15:00

Four draws in the last six National League games, all against teams below them in the table (the one win coming against Chester), paints the picture of a Heed side out of form.  Logic would dictate that the International Stadium would also be a difficult trip for teams, but the League record there reads five wins, five draws, four losses. Could the hosts improve on a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture as another out of form side arrive?  Maidstone have three League losses in a row following Tuesday’s loss at Fylde.  The Stones are winless in 12 National League matches, a massive 1,080 minutes without a victory, but can point to their stronger form away from the Gallagher Stadium (six wins and four draws in 15 National League matches) as a source of hope.

Leyton Orient vs Aldershot Town @15:00

Following last weekend’s curtailed trip to Halifax, Orient haven’t faced a League game since January 6th and a 0-0 draw with Boreham Wood.  The O’s are still in danger at the bottom, sitting five clear of Solihull in 21st with a game in hand, and have not been helped by going three without a League win, with no goals scored.  On the other hand, the leaky defence appears to have been patched with back to back clean sheets.  Orient fought back from 2-0 down to draw with the visitors in the reverse and will be hoping for a similarly spirited performance here, especially considering The Shots could go top with victory.  A draw with Ebbsfleet on Saturday extended Aldershot’s unbeaten League run to six, conceding only five and scoring nine, consistent for a side who have conceded at a rate of one per game in the division.  Aldershot are as challenging away as at home in the League with matching records of seven wins, five draws and three losses.  This game sees the start of tough runs for both with Orient travelling to Halifax midweek before taking on Dover, Tranmere and Fylde.  The Shots, meanwhile, face trips to Dagenham and Wrexham, bookending home games with Macclesfield and Bromley.

Macclesfield Town vs Torquay Utd @15:00

A 6-0 loss away to Fylde on Saturday ended an 11 game undefeated League run for The Macc.  In fact, it is now two without a League win for the leaders, with no goals scored.  The home side could drop as low as 3rd with a bad result on Saturday, but they will be confident considering the opposition and the fact that they have only lost three League matches at The Moss Rose. Visitors Torquay are bottom of the pile, with four League losses in a row, conceding 12 and scoring only one.  This is perhaps no surprise for a team that have scored a division low 24 goals in 30, conceding over twice as many (51).  The Gulls need points soon with 11 points separating them from Barrow and a 23 goal inferior goal difference, but have it all against them, especially as they are on a run of eight without a League victory, and have picked up only two away League wins, with a massive 10 losses.

Maidenhead Utd vs Chester @15:00

Maidenhead have a home League record fitting of a team in mid table, with five wins, six draws and four losses.  They sit 13th, four without a National League win, and will want to avenge a defeat against the visitors in September.  Chester are 22nd, but only four points off safety, albeit with Barrow having a game in hand and 17 superior goal difference. The Blues have picked up five points from the last five including good results this month against Ebbsfleet and Fylde, so may feel confident of getting something, and eight away draws in the division from 15 backs this up – only two wins suggests a win may be more unlikely.

Woking vs AFC Fylde @15:00

The poor run continues for Woking, a draw at Gateshead on Tuesday extended their winless League run to nine, with only three points taken.  The Cards can, however, rely on home comforts where they have picked up seven wins, three draws and five losses in the division.  Fylde come to town as the form team in the National League, a win against Maidstone on Tuesday making it three wins in a row, seven undefeated with six victories.  The Coasters are up to 6th, and can boast the League’s top scorer in Danny Rowe (16) amongst an attack that has scored a League high 54 in 30.  They are also better on the road than at home, so what chance a repeat of September’s 2-1 win for Woking?

Wrexham vs Tranmere Rovers @15:00

Saving the best for last, this fiercely fought derby sees 4th take on 5th.  The hosts have one point more than Rovers, with a game in hand, but both could go second with victory.  Both sides have won the last two in the division, Wrexham undefeated in the last five League games, Tranmere three.  The Dragons have taken nine points from the last six, Tranmere 13, and the hosts can look to a 1-0 win earlier in the season and only one home League loss (with eight wins and six draws).  Tranmere have won seven of their last nine National League matches, but have struggled away from Prenton Park with only four League wins from 15.  Looking at the for and against columns, Wrexham have conceded a League low 22 goals, but only scored 33 in 29, although they have scored nine in the previous three. Rovers have been similarly tight defensively conceding 28, but have scored significantly more (46).  This promises to be a classic!