MANAGER Steve Waywell says that every game is a cup final for Leigh RMI and there can certainly be no under-stating the importance of the next week in the battle for Conference survival.

His Railwaymen go into Saturday's clash with last year's relegated Football League side, Barnet, knowing that their home form this season has been nothing short of dreadful but the pressure will be minimal when compared to Tuesday night's six-pointer at Stalybridge Celtic.

Stalybridge are battling to avoid the ignominious distinction of an immediate return to the UniBond League after they amassed an amazing 102 points to win that division and earn promotion last season. They currently lie just outside the relegation zone with 30 points although they have played one game less than Leigh and three points for Celtic in the Bower Fold clash would really tighten matters up as the season heads into the home straight.

But history is all in Leigh's favour ahead of the game, as they have not lost on either of their last two visits to the Tameside club. During Leigh's championship season, a Mark Ward-inspired RMI played through the fog to win 3-1 and even had time to miss a penalty.

Own goal

The previous season, RMI trailed 4-0 with thirty minutes left only to recover to earn a draw with a last minute own goal from the goalkeeper Mark Statham.

The Stalybridge match is the first of a number of critical matches against other relegation-threatened sides that will decide the fate of clubs battling it out near the bottom. Leigh will also go to Chester in March three days before they face Stalybridge in the Hilton Park return - another game that was postponed over the Christmas period.

Further vital clashes with Woking and Forest Green as well as Scarborough and Dover Athletic in April will make or break the season for the Railwaymen. On current form though, RMI are the form team of the league. They are unbeaten since their 5-0 hammering at Southport in January and have recorded clean sheets in both their visits to Hereford and Northwich - which yielded maximum points.

Before they line up against Stalybridge though, they have the small matter of Barnet to contend with. Leigh produced one of their best performances of the season back in October when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Underhill but John Still's side have encountered a slide of late, losing at Scarborough and more recently, crashing to a shock defeat at home to Stalybridge.

Leigh will be looking for retribution on Saturday after a late penalty deprived them of all three points on that occasion but more importantly, eager eyes will be on the terraces where continued low gates may see Leigh out of the Conference quicker than their form.

Postponed

The Barnet game at Hilton Park on Saturday will kick-off at 3pm while the Stalybridge fixture will start at 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Leigh's Nationwide Conference meeting with Forest Green Rovers at the Lawn - scheduled for Saturday 23 February - has now been postponed owing to Forest Green's involvement in the FA Trophy. A re-arranged date has yet to be fixed.

Leigh RMI Week Preview by Martyn Hindley