BASINGSTOKE Town could take a big step towards securing their place in the Vanarama Conference South play-offs this weekend.

Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 win over Weston super Mare saw Town move six points clear of sixth place with just seven games of the season remaining.

Their next game is a trip to fifth-placed Whitehawk on Saturday (3pm).

Victory would move Basingstoke three points closer to ensuring that they extend their season and also open up a six-point gap between themselves and the Sussex club.

However, defeat would see Whitehawk join them on 60 points, leaving Town looking nervously over their shoulder towards Ebbsfleet United and Gosport Borough, who will be hoping to make a late run into the top five.

Town manager Jason Bristow said: “It’s a big game for both clubs and it’s important that we don’t let them close the gap by beating us.

“We are not going there for a point, we want to win the game, but it’s important that we do not lose ground or allow other teams to gain on us.

“It’s nice to have a cushion but the picture changes every week. If we are unable to get the right results in the next couple of games, we could find ourselves down in sixth.

“There are seven games left and we are still talking about the top of the table, which is really pleasing. Saturday is an opportunity for us to make our position even stronger, but it will be a really tough test.”

Bristow has warned that his side will be in for a very difficult afternoon when they travel to Whitehawk.

Town go into the game having lost just one of their last nine games, while they have already beaten Whitehawk twice at The Soccer AM Stadium.

Those games were extremely tight, with Basingstoke claiming 1-0 wins in both the league and FA Trophy, and Bristow is expecting more of the same this time around.

“Whitehawk are possibly the best side we have played against this season,” he said. “They pass the ball really well and have some fantastic individuals. Collectively, they are good as well, so it will be tough, but we will go there with confidence and try to win the game.

“We have beaten them twice already this season, so that is a good habit to be in, but they are going to want to get one over on us.”

Town go into the fixture with an almost clean bill of health.

Everyone came through Tuesday’s win over Weston super Mare without a problem, meaning that midfielder Jamie Brown, who is back in training after a groin operation, is the only player missing.

There will be a familiar face in the Whitehawk team, with former Town midfielder Sergio Torres, an ex-teammate and good friend of Bristow’s, in the Sussex side’s squad.

“It will be nice to see Sergio again,” Bristow added. “He is playing well at the moment, but I don’t want to see him smiling too much on Saturday.

“We have to make sure that we don’t focus too much of our attention on Sergio as they have lots of other really talented players.”