WEYMOUTH assistant-manager Paul Maitland is looking forward to a game of huge significance as the Terras close in on their hunt for the play-offs in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division tonight (7.45pm).
Saturday saw the three clubs just outside the play-offs fail to win, while Weymouth thumped one of the hopefuls Chesham United 6-0.
Maitland said: “It is a game of huge significance as both of us took a big step towards the play-offs on Saturday.
“Both will be looking to take another step tonight and obviously you start to jostle a little bit for positions as well
“We probably did everyone a favour with that result and increased everybody’s gap.
“Whilst no one is confirmed in their yet and and we are all still aiming to cement places in there I think everyone is starting to look potentially at where they could finish.
“This game has huge significance and huge bearing on that.”
Both sides are currently in the middle of a hectic run of fixtures, as this is the second clash in a run of four games in nine days for the Terras while Slough this is their fifth in the space of two weeks with the Rebels currently having played the least amount of games in the league.
Slough have recently signed former Reading midfielder Scott Davies and centre-half Matt Day on loan from Wealdstone, while Ben Harris is likely to be injured for them as he pulled up with a hamstring problem during their last match, a 4-1 win over Basingstoke Town.
The Terras meanwhile have a clean bill of health with everyone fit and available.
The last time the two sides met back in November, Weymouth lost 3-0 and Maitland admits the side did not give the best account of themselves.
Maitland said: “We will certainly be looking to improve on our performance from that game. We will expect a very difficult game because they are a good side and they are on a good run of form as well but we are on a good run of form ourselves so we have nothing to fear and we certainly will not be fearing anyone at home.”
“We will be looking to be positive and try to get a good result to further strengthen our play-off position.”
Weymouth are currently on a run of eight wins in their last nine matches while Slough have two losses, two draws and five wins in the same time but the Terras have not won in four matches against the Rebels.
In the 3-0 defeat away at Slough in November the Terras were missing Ashley Wells, Brandon Goodship and Calvin Brooks as Slough put three past them.
Reflecting on the match Maitland said: “I would not knock the players that played that day, we collectively did not play as well as we could have.
“Tonight represents an opportunity to put that right but it is not about settling the score it is about taking another step forward in our pursuit of a play-off place.”
When discussing how their opponents might approach the match at the Bob Lucas Stadium, Maitland said:”I think it will be interesting to see whether Slough do as they did at their place to win the game or whether they will be content to try and come for a point, only they will know that.”
