ABOVE: Action from Tranmere Rovers' 3-1 win against Hartlepool United. Pictures: Dave Gennard
EXCITEMENT is in the air at Prenton Park as the Coca-Cola League One promotion race prepares to enter the final stages . . .
And Tranmere Rovers, having picked up four out of a possible six points in their last two games, including a precious point at runaway leaders Swansea City, are poised to stake their claim for a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
Rovers go into the Easter programme lying joint sixth in the table on 56 points and, with just eight games left to play, manager Ronnie Moore believes their destiny is in their own hands.
"It's what we do that counts - at the end of the day we want to be in the play-offs," he asserted.
Tranmere begin their strange-looking Easter fixtures tomorrow night (Thursday, March 20) when they welcome bottom club Port Vale to Prenton Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
It's the first time in living memory Rovers have been involved in Thursday night league football - the match was brought forward to give the players time to recover and travel to Bournemouth for Easter Monday's encounter (kick-off 3pm).
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And with most of the other top clubs engaging each other over Easter, the Tranmere boss is only too aware of the importance of picking up points from both games.
But he warns that Port Vale, in spite of their perilous position, will be no pushovers.
"They are fighting for their lives - they won't come here and lie down, you can be sure of that," said Moore, who is urging Wirral fans to become Tranmere's 12th man'.
"It would be nice to have 9,000 here on Thursday," said Moore. "We want to recreate the magic of Friday night football on a Thursday - and if the fans are behind us vocally the lads will feel they are playing with a 12th man."
Moore has a near full-strength squad from which to pick the side to face Port Vale - and there is good news, too, about club captain Ian Goodison, who it was feared could be out for at least six weeks after suffering a knee injury at Oldham.
A scan has revealed bruising but no ligament damage and Goodison could be in contention for the Bournemouth game.
Winger Chris Shuker, out with an ankle injury, is likely to return in time to face Port Vale.
Last Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Swansea was followed by Saturday's 3-1 triumph over Hartlepool United at Prenton Park, thanks to strikes by Chris Greenacre, an own goal and Shane Sherriff.
Rovers' 2-0 lead was pegged back and then Hartlepool missed a penalty before Sherriff eased the nerves.
"We got lucky with the penalty," admitted Moore.
q Tranmere Rovers season ticket holders can take a friend or relative to Prenton Park for HALF PRICE to the Port Vale game.
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