By Nathan Jackson
April 22 2007

Lincoln City will be confirmed in the playoffs on Tuesday night if Macclesfield Town defeat Bristol Rover at Moss Rose. It would mean a 5th playoff campaign in a row for the Imps, but Tuesday night could also see City move out of the top 5 for the first time since the second week of the season.

After a 0-0 draw between the Imps and the Gas on Saturday, Bristol Rovers are the only side outside of the top 7 that can now overtake the Imps. To do so they will have to get at least seven points from their remaining 3 games, the first of which is an away game at Macclesfield. They then host Swindon Town on Saturday in a game that could see the visitors promoted automatically. Rovers' final game of the season will be away at Hartlepool. So although it seems highly unlikely that Bristol Rovers will get to 70 points, it would be nice to go into the final 2 games without having pressure on to make the playoff places.

However, City could find themselves down in 6th position on Tuesday evening. In-form Shrewsbury Town host Wrexham. It is Shrewsbury's game in hand and would draw them level on points with City, the Shrews would go above the Imps on goal difference. Shrewsbury then have another derby on Saturday, away at Hereford before then entertaining Grimsby Town in the final ever League game to be played at Gay Meadow. It does look exceedingly likely however that they will end their time at Gay Meadow with a playoff semi final.

Infact, the 4 playoff teams could be decided as early as Saturday. If Macclesfield do beat Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night, not only would it guarantee the Imps finish in the playoffs, it would mean that Shrewsbury could guarantee their end-of-season-lottery place on Tuesday, and Stockport would need just 3 points from their last 2 games to guarantee a playoff place, their game on Saturday being at home to struggling Bury.

No-one will be relegated from League 2 this week, simply because Accrington and Macclesfield facing each other on Saturday, meaning that Boston would go into the final week being 3 points adrift at the very least if they were to lose against Torquay.

On Saturday, Bradford and Chesterfield face each other at Valley Parade, if the game has a winner, then the team that loses are definitely down. If the game ends as a draw, both will have to pray that Cheltenham lose against Rotherham, if not then both Bradford and Chesterfield will be relegated to League 2.

In the Conference, Oxford are the only team 100% guaranteed in the playoffs. Morecambe are effectively in the playoffs, only needing to avoid defeat by an absolute thumping to finish in the Top 5. York play host to Oxford, a point will realistically do for them, again due to goal difference. The final place is between 3 clubs, Exeter, Burton and Gravesend. Exeter are currently in the driving season, not only being in the final playoff place, but also having a much better goal difference.

We'll end on an optimistic note, if Hull win at Cardiff and Leeds lose at home to Ipswich, then City will definitely face the men from Elland Road next season if they win the playoffs. Southend will also be relegated to League 1 if either they lose, or Hull City win.