Saturday's Blue Square North preview

Telford will have the chance to cut the gap on league leaders Kettering this weekend while Stalybridge and Southport battle it out at Haig Avenue.

AFC Telford v Redditch

Telford prepare for the visit of mid-table Redditch to New Bucks Head on Saturday afternoon as they look to close the gap on league leaders Kettering.

The Bucks trail Kettering by just four points and will certainly be keen to further reduce that gap but face a tough task with a number of injuries decimating their numbers in the past two weeks.

January signing Stuart Whitehead has been ruled out for six weeks, while Jimmy Turner and Vaughan Thomas have also been on the sidelines.

However, Indy Khela has returned to contention to ease their injury problems and he is expected to play some part in Saturday's fixture.

Redditch currently find themselves in 12th place on the Blue Square North table with 45 points from 33 fixtures.

Blue SQ have given the home side odds of 15/2 on a 2-1 victory.

Blyth Spartans v Hucknall

Harry Dunne's Blyth Spartans will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when relegation-threatened Hucknall visit Croft Park.

The Spartans will have to make do without the services of Phil Bell after the striker suffered damaged ligaments in both his knee and ankle in the defeat to Redditch.

Andy Johnson picked up a slight foot injury in the same match and faces a late fitness test.

Robbie Dale is still injured and Martin Houlahan suffering from a bout of flu.

Hucknall find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap at this crucial point of the season and have the same points tally as Hinckley and Vauxhall.

Their better goal difference is keeping them out of the dreaded drop zone and collected all three points this weekend will certainly be at the top of the agenda.

Blue SQ have give the Spartans odds of 7/1 on a 2-0 win.

Boston Utd v Burscough

Boston striker Jon Froggatt could make his first start since January 5 when the Pilgrims entertain Burscough at the Staffsmart Stadium.

Froggatt has returned to training following a back injury and is expected to play some part in this fixture.

Stewart Talbot is also back in contention after being rested for Tuesday night's trip to Vauxhall Motors, but Matt O'Halloran and Hakeem Araba are both ruled out.

The Pilgrims have also completed the non-contract signing of 18-year-old striker Markell Bailey.

The Nottingham-based striker will be involved on Saturday, having impressed in a midweek trial match.

Burscough's Tony McMillan is expected to be fit following the dead leg that forced him off against Hyde United.

Robbie Booth and Adam Flynn return to contention after completing their suspensions while Alan Moogan faces a late test after suffering a back spasm in the Hyde game.

Blue SQ have given the visitors odds of 13/2 on a 1-0 win.

Leigh RMI v Alfreton Town

Rock-bottom Leigh RMI will be gunning for all three points when Nicky Law's Alfreton Town travel to Hilton Park on Saturday afternoon.

RMI boss Steve Bleasdale is expected to hand a debut to striker James Dunn, who joined the club on loan from Blue Square North rivals Burscough in midweek.

The Reds have suffered a dip in form recently and will be keen to return to winning ways after failing to record a win in their past five fixtures.

Aside from goalkeeper Kyle Sutcliffe, manager Nicky Law has no new injury worries and he takes the same squad north which lost 3-1 at Stalybridge Celtic on Tuesday night.

Blue SQ have handed the visitors odds of 8/1 on a 2-1 victory.

Nuneaton v Barrow

Promotion hopefuls Nuneaton Borough play host to Barrow at Liberty Way as they look to maintain their play-off berth with a good result.

Nuneaton will miss the services of left wing-back Connor Franklin, who serves the first match of a three-match suspension on Saturday.

Recent signing Rob Taylor is expected to fill the vacancy left by Franklin in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

Barrow are expected to complete the signing of much-travelled Football League striker Paul Tait ahead of Saturday's clash.

Midfielder James Scales misses out with a knee injury but Jason Walker (hamstring), Mark Boyd (groin), Matt Henney (back) and Steve McNulty (hip) are all expected to be fit to play.

Blue SQ have given the hosts odds of 6/1 on a 2-0 win.

Solihull Moors v Harrogate Town

Solihull Moors can expect a stern test this weekend when promotion chasers Harrogate Town make the trip to Damson Park.

The Moors find themselves hovering dangerously close to the drop zone and have collected 34 points from 33 fixtures.

Town will be looking to record a fifth consecutive away win to help consolidate their position in the play-off zone.

Harrogate completed the signing of Danny Lowe from Harrogate Railway in midweek and the left-back will be available for selection at Solihull Moors.

Blue SQ have given the visitors odds of 7/1 on a 2-0 win.

Southport v Stalybridge

Southport face a promotion six-pointer this weekend when third-placed Stalybridge Celtic travel to Haig Avenue.

Manager Peter Davenport is sweating on the fitness of on-loan Hartlepool forward Michael Rae, who tweaked his hamstring last weekend.

Suspended striker Neil Robinson serves his second match while Mark Duffy is ruled out after being on the receiving end of a two-footed shin-high tackle.

Celtic have a full squad to select from ahead of the match, with no injury or suspension worries.

Blue SQ have odds of 13/2 on this encounter ending in a 1-1 draw.

Vauxhall Motors v Gainsborough

Relegation battlers Vauxhall Motors will be looking to record a second win on the bounce when Gainsborough Trinity make the trip to Rivacre Park.

Vauxhall picked up some valuable points with a narrow midweek win at the expense of Boston United and they will be focused on producing more of the same.

Gainsborough are boosted by the return of striker Simon Bird, who is available for selection after regaining match fitness.

This is a welcome relief for Trinity boss Steve Charles as both Ryan Mallon (calf) and Liam Nimmo (back) are injury doubts.

Lewis McMahon is struggling with a foot problem but is expected to be fit to play.

Blue SQ have odds of 13/2 on this match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Worcester v Tamworth

Worcester take on Tamworth for the third time this season as they hope to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat at top-of-the-table Kettering last Saturday.

City will hand late fitness tests to John Munday, Matt Dinsmore and Ryan Clarke but at least two out of the three should be fit to play.

Defender William Ricketts has signed from Aston Villa this week and is available to make his debut.

Tamworth have three games in hand over Worcester and could move to within a point of them.

Blue SQ have given the home side odds of 6/1 on a 1-0 win.

Workington v Hinckley Utd

Workington will be looking to open up a bigger gap on the dreaded drop zone when relegation-threatened Hinckley visit Borough Park.

The Reds find themselves in 16th place with 37 points but have three games in hand while Hinckley languish in 20th place with a disappointing 27 points from 34 games.

Blue SQ have given the hosts odds of 6/1 on a 2-0 win.