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Saturday's Blue Square North and South Preview

With a number of teams participating in the FA Cup this weekend there are only a handful of Blue Square league games.

Blue Square North leader Droylsden face a difficult test as they find themselves up against Eastwood Town. Only three points separate the two sides and a victory for the Badgers could see them move up into third place if other results go in their favour.

It is an interesting time for the two sides to face each other as Droylsden slipped up at Workington last week while Town succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to lowly Vauxhall Motors.

Gainsborough welcome an in-form Stalybridge to the Northolme this weekend with manager Brian Little showing his nerves ahead of the tie.

Celtic are currently in fourth place having sustained an eight-match unbeaten run with the Blues in 15th with 13 points from their 12 games.

Little told the Gainsborough Standard: "The game has been thrown on us and I've not had much time to do my homework on them.

"But there are no easy games if you're playing with a lack of confidence."

Trinity must make do without Adie Moses but welcome the return of James Hunt, Chris Hall and Wes Parker.

Fifth-placed Corby take on 17th placed Stafford Rangers this Saturday with Rangers manager Chris Brindley set to hand a debut to loan signing Ashley Wooliscroft.

Three points for the visitors will see them end a four-match winless run with Brindley hopeful his side can earn a result.

Brindley told the Express and Star: "We have just got to get stuck in again as we have another couple of tough games coming up. It's a poor run form we are in, we need to just keep working hard and hopefully it will turn for us. We are not a million miles away, there's a lot of criticism flying about but it's a tight league and things can quickly change.

"For me, we are not far off turning it around but we have to keep plugging away."

Tom Thorley returns for Rangers after a bout of flu while keeper Bill Lumley is in contention after recovering from a knock in training.

The leagues' bottom side Farsley Celtic have been in fine form of late, picking up nine points from their last three games and a win at home to Vauxhall Motors would move them level on points with their opponents, who are currently fourth from bottom.

Neil Parsley misses his second game while on holiday, with Mark Jackson and Simeon Bambrook overseeing team affairs in his absence.

Jackson told the Advertiser: "This is a must-win game for us at home against a team close to us in the table.

"They don't come any bigger - it doesn't matter which league you are in - but we couldn't go into it in any better shape. Confidence here is on a high, and last week was an example of that.

"We went a goal down and, given our position and the fact that we hadn't played for a fortnight, there could have been nerves from the players. But the lads turned it the other way and we were in control before half-time."

In the only other game in the Blue Square North, Solihull Moors and Harrogate Town face-off with both teams desperate for points.

Player-coach Simon Weaver has benched himself for the game as he plans to assist assistant coach Tom Wade from the touchline.

Michael Wood will come in to partner Matt Bloomer in defence.

Weaver told the Harrogate Advertiser: "It's hard enough managing on the pitch when you're running after a striker and chasing the ball all over the place, I feel I need to stand back and manage the side that way.

"That will give the chance to some of the other lads. Woody came on and did really well on Saturday and hopefully him and Matt Bloomer can strike up a bit of a partnership.

"Saturday is a game we can win, unfortunately last week we took a step back because there was a big improvement against Droylsden.

"The quality is there in the side, we just need to cut out the defensive mistakes starting at Solihull. They won't be easy to beat but I'm looking for a better performance .

"We've then got Redditch which looking at the table will be massive. But I'm always confident."

Ben Chapman has recovered from an illness to return at left back with loan signing Rory Coleman set to take up the left wing role.

Just three matches make up the Blue Square South fixture list this weekend with Bishops Stortford the most high-profile club on display.

The Bishops face second-from-bottom Lewes in a match they will be expecting to win and if current form is anything to go by then it will be a mere formality.

Stortford come off the back of two wins while Lewes have lost two in two.

Sixth-placed Basingstoke take on bottom-club Weymouth while Maidenhead United host Weston-Super-Mare.

Basingstoke manager Frank Gray told the Basingstoke Gazette: "No one expected us to get a result in Dover and Weymouth will come here with nothing to lose.

"They have not had a good start, but just lately we have not played well at home. So we are taking nothing for granted and want that home win."

Striker Jahson Downes is still struggling with a knee injury and could miss out for Town but Lewis Christon could be back, having missed the last game with a thigh injury.

All the fixtures in full:Blue Square North

Corby v Stafford

Eastwood Town v Droylsden

Farsley Celtic v Vauxhall Ms

Gainsborough v Stalybridge

Solihull Moors v Harrogate Town

Blue Square South

Basingstoke v Weymouth

Lewes v Bishops Sford

Maidenhead Utd v Weston-S-Mare