AFTER a weekend's enforced rest due to the Unibond Cup, Boro are back in action on Saturday when they entertain North East side Spennymoor United.

Having not lost at home so far this year - beating Bradford Park Avenue and Frickley United in the league, either side of the Marsden Cup defeat of Blackpool Mechanics - Boro are aiming to make it a third home league win in a row.

This will be the first meeting of the season between the two, with the County Durham club currently three points and three places below Boro in the Unibond Premier Division table, although like most they have games in hand on Boro, in this case two.

The Moors have lost their last six away games - three of them league fixtures - while Boro have won three of their last six home league games, including the last two.

With the teams above and below them it is imperative that Boro continue to win games, both home and away, if they are to finish in the top 13 in order to qualify for the new Conference North.

However, with the Unibond Premier Division champions theoretically being promoted straight into the National Conference, a 14th spot becomes avaliable.

But to get that last UniBond League promotion position, teams will have to battle through a series of Play-offs, which will be organised as follows:

Tuesday 27th April 2004

Game 1 14th v 1st Div Champs

Game 2 15th v 20th

Game 3 16th v 19th

Game 4 17th v 18th

Saturday 1st May, Games 5 & 6:

Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 4

Winner Game 2 v Winner Game 3

Monday 3rd May, Game 7:

Winner Game 5 v Winner Game 6

If a top thirteen finish cannot be achieved, finishing as high as possible would help to guarantee home advantage in the Play-offs.

The 14th placed club will have home advantage all the way should they keep winning.

The 15th placed club would enjoy home games in two of the three play-offs, if successful.

Of course, a top 13 finish would mean Boro would avoid the Play-offs altogether.

A win against the Moors, therefore, would be a step in the right direction.