Crucial games at the weekend for Stamford AFC, Spalding United, Bourne Town, Deeping Rangers and Blackstones
Stamford will aim for an immediate response after suffering their heaviest Southern League defeat of the season on Saturday.
The Daniels’ seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier Division Central came to an abrupt end, 4-0 at promotion rivals Bedford Town, as they slipped out of the play-off places.
Stamford face another crunch game this weekend when they host third-placed Kettering Town.
A victory will propel manager Graham Drury’s men back into the title race as they sit just six points behind leaders Halesowen Town in seventh spot.
Stamford will hold a bucket collection at Saturday’s game with Kettering Town for long-serving Joe Burgess.
Captain Burgess has made more than 200 appearances for the Daniels but faces up to a year out after rupturing his ACL against Redditch earlier this month.
Supporter Paul Duell has started GoFundMe page for the former Boston United and Corby Town player which is close to raising £1,500.
Spalding are also in play-off contention and manager Jimmy Dean will be demanding more from his side as they head into the final six games of the campaign.
The Tulips are just four points adrift of the play-off places in their first season in the Premier Division Central.
They go into Saturday's tricky trip to Lowestoft on the back of successive wins over Biggleswade and Hitchin but Dean feels his side has more to offer.
He said: "I still think we've got gears and I've said that to the players because we need to find them quickly.
"I do back these boys because they've shown us time and again the ability and levels that they've got.
"We're just doing enough at the minute but I think we're now coming into a stage where we need to start doing more."
The weekend's matches could have a huge impact on the play-off race with four of the leading contenders playing each other.
Harborough host Halesowen Town while Kettering make the trip to face Stamford with Bedford also taking on Leiston.
Dean commented: "A lot of the top sides play each other so it's guaranteed that teams will drop points.
"We can focus on sides dropping points above us or we can just keep focusing on us and trying to win games.
"There is no point worrying about them though if we can't do our job.
"We're up against it with our backs to the wall but would we have it any other way?"
Spalding head to title-chasing AFC Telford next weekend before a home match with Alvechurch the following Saturday.
Bourne Town can book their place in the United Counties League Premier Division North play-offs with victory at the weekend.
The second-placed Wakes are just one point adrift of table-topping Eastwood CFC after their victory over the Nottinghamshire side on Saturday.
But Michael Goode's side will be guaranteed a coveted top five finish if they defeat third-from-bottom Gresley Rovers at the Abbey Lawn this weekend.
Bourne are 13 points clear of sixth-placed Heanor Town with just five matches remaining of their first campaign back at step five of the non-league pyramid after last season's Division One title triumph.
They were 2-0 away winners at Gresley in November but the Derbyshire side returned to winning ways at the weekend after parting company with manager James Jepson.
And Wakes boss Goode won't be taking the Moatmen lightly as Bourne begin a crucial run-in to the end of the season.
He commented: "Like we've said all season, we've just got to look after ourselves.
"You're always going to look at other results and see what's going on but we've had a great March so far after a bad February.
"Anybody can beat anybody in this league though so we've just got to focus on the next game."
Deeping Rangers are now four points clear of the danger zone after losing just one of their last six matches.
They travel to Hucknall Town on Saturday with manager Brett Whaley keen to maintain his side's upward trajectory.
He said: "We've become difficult to beat and, if we keep doing that, then we'll give ourselves a chance.
"We've got five league games left and we need to keep getting points and we have to go into every game with an attitude of making sure that we don't go anyway with nothing."
Blackstones' push for the Division One play-offs has been boosted by the return of Kieran Duffy-Weekes.
Duffy-Weekes skippered Stones last season before joining Stamford Bels in the Peterborough League this term.
After helping Bels win the Peterborough League Division One crown, Duffy-Weekes is back with the fourth-placed Stones who visit Sandiacre on Saturday.
Pinchbeck United play the first of three successive home games in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League.
They host Needham Market Reserves at the Sir Halley Stewart ground on Saturday before entertaining FC Parson Drove on Tuesday night.
The hat-trick of home games is completed on Saturday, April 5, against AFC Sudbury Reserves.
Holbeach have a home match against Diss Town who occupy the final play-off place in the division.
The eighth-placed Tigers are 12 points adrift of the top five having picked up just one point from their last three league games.
