Quakers have eight games remaining, five of which are at Blackwell Meadows, and two of those are in the next four days against Rushall Olympic and Chorley. They’re currently 11th in the table, seven points behind the play-off positions with games running out.
But manager Steve Watson remains optimistic that his side can still sneak into the play-offs by the end of next month, citing the five remaining home fixtures as crucial. Farsley, South Shields and Needham Market are their other opponents, who like Rushall are below them in the table.
“We still find ourselves with a bit of a chance, but we must press that home advantage as much as we can,” said Watson.
“There were a lot of must-win games last season in different circumstances and we managed to find a way of winning them, and now we’ve got to do that again this season if we want to have any hope of what we want to do. We’ll certainly be going all out.”
Quakers picked up a point at Alfreton in midweek thanks to a late equaliser from Matty Cornish – they had strong claims for a penalty for a foul on Cedric Main turned down after that – and Watson said: “It was always going to be tough at Alfreton because of the way they play.
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“We only managed to put our foot on the ball in the last half-hour when we started to move them around quite a bit, so when teams sit back, you really have to move the ball quickly.
“I thought we deserved a point in the end, and a nailed-on penalty. I thought Matty Cornish was really positive when he came on and had a positive impact. Some of the young lads have come on and made really positive impacts.
“We’re after that consistency. You come on, make an impact, get a chance to start, maybe don’t make the same impact, then somebody else comes on and makes an impact.
“At the moment, we’re looking for players to take their own performances by the scruff of the neck and be the one that can’t be left out.”
Quakers again have several injury problems, with defenders Kallum Griffiths and Elliot Forbes, midfielder Tom Platt and strikers Andrew Nelson and Cameron Salkeld all out because of injury.
Defender Charlie Stirland, who went off injured in midweek, will hopefully be passed fit
Despite reaching the first round of the FA Cup, Rushall have had a poor season, finding themselves second bottom in the league table, nine points adrift of safety.