Port Vale: Rivals' run-in to promotion

GILLINGHAM

(1st, Played 37, 70 pts)

Saturday: Morecambe (a)

March 19: Rochdale (a)

March 23: ACCRINGTON (H)

March 30: Fleetwood (a)

April 1: ROTHERHAM (H)

April 6: TORQUAY (H)

April 13: Cheltenham (a)

April 20: WIMBLEDON (H)

April 27: Burton (a)

Prospects: An eight-point advantage over the play-off places should see Martin Allen's side secure one of the three automatic promotion places. A potential title decider could be on the cards at Burton on the final day.

Key man: Central defender Adam Barrett has played almost 600 games in his professional career and has been a key component of the Gills' back line this season. Won promotion to the Championship with Southend in 2006.

BURTON ALBION

(2nd, Played 38, 65 pts)

Saturday: Dagenham (a)

March 23: WYCOMBE (H)

March 30: CHESTERFIELD (H)

April 1: Accrington (a)

April 5: Port Vale (a)

April 13: PLYMOUTH (H)

April 20: Bradford (a)

April 27: GILLINGHAM (H)

Prospects: Arguably the surprise package in the promotion race, a run of nine successive home wins has put Gary Rowett's Brewers in contention. Top of the form table with 15 points from the last 18 available.

Key man: Winger Jacques Maghoma has scored four goals in his last six matches. Capable of that moment of magic to turn a game.

PORT VALE

(3rd, Played 38, 64 pts)

Saturday: York City (a)

March 23: ALDERSHOT (H)

March 29: CHELTENHAM (H)

April 1: Chesterfield (a)

April 5: BURTON (H)

April 13: Rochdale (a)

April 20: NORTHAMPTON (H)

April 27: Wycombe (a)

Prospects: Need to shrug off their poor run of form, but if they do, the fact many of their rivals play each other could play into their hands.

Key man: Striker Tom Pope has netted 27 times this season, but hasn't scored since the 2-2 draw at Wimbledon in January. Getting him back among the goals is critical for the Valiants.

NORTHAMPTON

(4th, Played 38, 62 pts)

Saturday: Wycombe (a)

March 23: OXFORD (H)

March 29: TORQUAY (H)

April 1: Cheltenham (a)

April 6: Bradford (a)

April 13: YORK (H)

April 20: Port Vale (a)

April 27: BARNET (H)

Prospects: Favourable home fixtures, but tough away assignments. Their results on the road will dictate if it is automatic promotion or play-offs for the Cobblers.

Key man: Experienced defender Clark Carlisle. Just the sort of presence you need to calm the situation down when nerves become frayed.

ROTHERHAM

(5th, Played 37, 61 pts)

Saturday: Cheltenham (a)

March 23: EXETER (H)

March 29: WIMBLEDON (H)

April 1: Gillingham (a)

April 6: Morecambe (a)

April 13: FLEETWOOD (H)

April 16: Bradford (a)

April 20: Plymouth (a)

April 27: ALDERSHOT (H)

Prospects: Playing many of the teams around them can only help. Their game in hand at Bradford in April could prove decisive.

Key man: Manager Steve Evans. Knows what it takes to win promotion having guided Boston to the Conference title. Repeated the feat with Crawley, and laid the foundations for their immediate ride through League Two before leaving for Rotherham.

CHELTENHAM

(6th, Played 38, 61 pts)

Sat: ROTHERHAM (H)

March 23: Barnet (a)

March 29: Port Vale (a)

April 1: NORTHAMPTON (H)

April 6: Plymouth (a)

April 13: GILLINGHAM (H)

April 20: Exeter (a)

April 27: BRADFORD (H)

Prospects: Not the run-in boss Mark Yates would have picked if he had the choice. A place in the play-offs looks like being the best they can hope for.

Key man: Midfielder Marlon Pack has the ability to play a killer pass or come up with a goal out of nothing.

EXETER

(7th, Played 38, 60 pts)

Saturday: BRADFORD (H)

March 23: Rotherham (a)

March 30: Plymouth (a)

April 1: ROCHDALE (H)

April 6: DAGENHAM (H)

April 13: Wimbledon (a)

April 20: CHELTENHAM (H)

April 27: Chesterfield (a)

Prospects: Have been better on their travels this season, but a favourable points haul at St James' Park will heap the pressure on the top three.

Key man: Veteran frontman Jamie Cureton has that scoring knack in tight situations, as he proved at Port Vale in a recent 2-0 victory.

FLEETWOOD

(8th, Played 37, 55 pts)

Saturday: Plymouth (a)

March 19: Barnet (a)

March 23: DAGENHAM (H)

March 30: GILLINGHAM (H)

April 1: Southend (a)

April 6: ROCHDALE (H)

April 13: Rotherham (a)

April 20: CHESTERFIELD (H)

April 27: Wimbledon (a)

Prospects: Five points off the play-offs, but with a game in hand. Looks a tough task for them to break into the top seven.

Key men: Former Stoke striker Jon Parkin bagged a hat-trick in the win at Accrington on Tuesday night. But the inexperience of rookie boss Graham Alexander might also tell during a tense run-in.

OXFORD

(9th, Played 38, 55 pts)

Saturday: Chesterfield (h)

March 23: Northampton (a)

March 29: Morecambe (h)

April 1: Aldershot (a)

April 6: Wycombe (h)

April 13: Dagenham (a)

April 20: Rochdale (h)

April 27: Accrington (a)

Prospects: A trip to Northampton is the only match to really worry Chris Wilder's side. Capable of winning six of the last eight to make a late push for promotion.

Key man: The players' self-belief. Michael Raynes popped up in the 96th minute to see off relegation-threatened Barnet on Tuesday to prove the U's players haven't given up hope of making life uncomfortable for the sides around them.

SOUTHEND

(10th, Played 37, 54 pts)

Saturday: TORQUAY (H)

March 19: PLYMOUTH (H)

March 23: Rochdale (a)

March 29: Bradford (a)

April 1: FLEETWOOD (H)

April 12: BRISTOL ROVERS (H)

April 16: Aldershot (a)

April 20: York (a)

April 27: MORECAMBE (H)

Prospects: A trip to Wembley on April 7 to play Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final could prove a distraction. But their league fixtures look winnable.

Key man: The club's fans. Southend have failed to win any of their last five home matches, so support from the terraces can aid their return to winning ways at Roots Hall.