VICTORY NIGHT: Action from Tranmere Rovers' 2-1 defeat of Swindon Town at Prenton Park. Pictures by Globe photographer Dave Gennard
TRANMERE Rovers' nine month battle for a place in The Championship reaches its climax as they push for a place in the Coca-Cola League One end-of-season play-offs for the third and final promotion spot.
Rovers, at the time of writing, are sitting sixth in the table - a position they must at least hold onto to qualify for the play-offs.
The nail-biting drama starts to unfold on Saturday, when Ronnie Moore and his squad visit promotion rivals Walsall, who have slipped to 10th in the table after a run of mixed results.
On Saturday week, Tranmere entertain fifth-placed Nottingham Forest at Prenton Park, then go to Huddersfield (April 19) before welcoming fourth-placed Southend United to Birkenhead (April 26) - the penultimate match of what has been a long and at times topsy turvy campaign for Rovers, who wrap up their programme on Saturday, May 3 with a visit to Northampton.
Peter Shirtliff, Rovers' assistant manager who took charge of Monday's weekly press conference in the absence of boss Ronnie Moore, away on personal business, admits that it's not going to be an easy time but he believes the squad is relishing the challenge after Friday night's 2-1 home victory over Swindon Town.
Shirtliff - coming towards the end of his first season as Moore's assistant manager - said: "Five games doesn't sound a lot, but they are five very important games. Fortunately, they are all on a Saturday, so the players have not got any midweek games, which means they get a few extra days to recover."
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He added: "We're positive, we're confident without being over-confident and we're going to try and get the maximum points from the games left. It can be a bit nervy and a bit edgy, but you've got to live with it. You can never guarantee anything in this league, but we are going to do our damndest to do it."
Ronnie Moore is on record as saying he believes Tranmere need at least 69 points to finish in the top six and qualify for the play-offs. His team, with 62 points on the board and 15 still to play for, are well on course to hit that target or, better still, exceed it.
Tranmere have played 41 games - one more than nearest rivals Brighton, who entertain bottom club Port Vale on Saturday, and two more than eighth-placed Leeds United, who were in action at third-placed Doncaster Rovers last night (Tuesday).
Shirtliff is only too aware of the importance of Saturday's trip to Walsall (kick-off 3pm) and promises that Rovers will be looking to return home with at least a share of the spoils, but he is under no illusions.
"We're expecting a very tough game," he said. "They are organised and tight."
Rovers' winger Chris Shuker could be back in the squad this week after missing the last two games because of a niggling reaction caused by a knee injury.
Striker Steve Davies is making steady progress following cruciate ligament surgery and is set to return to first-team training.
Commenting on the 20-year-old's progress, Shirtliff said: "He has handled his recovery really well."
He added: "As a group, we're staying tight and staying together.
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