Spalding United host Harborough Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central
Manager Jimmy Dean feels Saturday's crunch clash with Harborough Town could have a decisive impact on their goals for the rest of the season.
The Tulips lock horns with the Bees in a vital match for both sides' bid to push for the play-offs in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
Only goal difference is keeping Mitch Austin's charges above Dean's side in eighth spot with both teams just seven points shy of a coveted top five finish.
Dean said: "It's a massive game and there's no point hiding from it.
"I don't think there's a favourite either because they're a very good side with very good players.
"There are areas where we both look stronger than each other so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
"We're playing a top side with a top manager and it's a game we certainly can't afford to lose.
"A lot of their boys have been there for a while and know how big this game is and we've got to make sure that we're the same."
There is some fierce rivalry between the two clubs who were involved in a titanic tussle for the Northern Premier League Midlands Division title last season.
The Tulips pipped their Leicestershire foes to top spot after the Bees were stung with a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player.
Harborough then raided the Spalding playing ranks during the close season to prise leading marksman Riley O'Sullivan away from the Tulips.
The Bees beat Spalding 2-0 in the first meeting of the campaign but Dean felt that match only highlighted the work ahead in his second game at the Tulips' helm.
He added: "I don't feel part of what went on in the past and I didn't feel part of it in the first game.
"Mitch (Austin) is genuinely one of my friends in football.
"It didn't bother me that we lost to Harborough in the first game but what did bother me was that we had been so poor on the day.
"It showed we had a lot of work to do to get to where Harborough were and it was how I felt on the day.
"It was my second game and there was a moment where I realised what a big job it was but it's a real 50-50 game now."
Both sides had indifferent starts to their new campaign at the higher level but have found their form as the season approaches the business end.
Dean continued: "Riley going in the summer has really strengthened them and hurt us but we've got our own players now.
"We've got a new team who can beat anybody on our day.
"Both teams have had fantastic runs recently but it's been a bit of an up and downer for the past month.
"It's a big and decisive game and that's how it's got to be looked at because we're at that stage of the season now.
"We've done fantastically well to get to where we are but, if we want to take the next step and try and kick on to close the gap, then we can't be losing on Saturday.
"We haven't got room for many negative results with only nine games left but, if you had offered me this at this stage of the season after we got beat by Harborough, then I would have snapped your hand off.
"We were in a relegation battle at that point and also were for quite a time afterwards."
Spalding go into the match having recorded back-to-back wins in their last two outings with a 1-0 away success at Stourbridge last weekend backing up the home victory over Redditch United the previous Saturday.
Dean missed the away win over the Glassboys due to illness with assistant Chris Plummer taking charge.
The Tulips boss said: "I've got a fantastic management team who don't get enough credit.
"They certainly make my life a lot easier and it was a good result for us on Saturday.
"We started sharply but kind of lost our way a little bit without them having real dominance.
"They carried a really big set piece threat and we probably rode our luck a little bit in stages.
"We made some good substitutions which really impacted the game well.
"We found a way to win the game which was good."
The Tulips also handed a debut as a second half substitute to new signing Jack Roberts who has joined from league rivals Bishop's Stortford.
The former Glasgow Rangers youngster scored a hat-trick against Spalding in the Blues' victory at the Sir Halley Stewart earlier in the campaign.
Dean commented: "Jack's only been with us for a week but his attitude has been superb.
"He's really enthusiastic about training and wants to make his mark at the football club.
"He's certainly a player who can impact now but he's also one to look at for next season as well."
Spalding also have Joe Nyahwema back in their playing ranks after he missed a couple of games last month.
