1. Exeter City (20) vs Huddersfield (6)

Point for Exeter may be enough

TEAM NEWS

　

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale hopes striker Barry Corr will be fit to return after coming on as a substitute for the last six minutes last weekend.

The Grecians are expecting a full house for one of the most important games in the club’s history.

Huddersfield striker Robbie Simpson is hoping to get his first start since October after a thigh injury.

Simpson was an unused substitute last weekend but manager Lee Clark will want him to get some time on the pitch before the playoffs start.

Exeter City:

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Corr (ankle and knee)

Injured/unavailable: None

　

Huddersfield:

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

This is a difficult match to predict, as it often is when you have a team in Huddersfield’s situation, who are assured of their playoff place and know that even if they win, they may still stay in sixth place. And a move up to fourth or fifth place may not leave them with any easier playoff semi-final. Theoretically, they could even go up automatically but that is highly unlikely.

Manager Lee Clark also wants to keep some of his players fresh for the playoffs so it will be interesting to see what side he puts out. On the other hand, he does not want to go into the extra matches with his side low on confidence. Having won their last four matches, they are full of it at the moment.

Exeter, of course, are in a totally different position, fighting for points to make sure they don’t drop straight back down into League Two. They are now on same points with 21st placed Tranmere but with a superior goal difference, they are almost sure to stay if they win this match. Having come back up from the Conference in 2008, they do not want to risk being eliminated from the league again next season.

They looked to be safe after beating Colchester 2-0 in early April. But since then, they have drawn five games out of six and lost the other one. And they have scored just four goals in those games. So manager Paul Tisdale may take a gamble on striker Barry Corr as he seeks the points that will guarantee his club’s League One place.

He will take heart from the fact that his team have lost only four times at home this season but Huddersfield have a good record on this ground and should be able to take a point.

HEAD TO HEAD

Exeter have lost four of their last five home games against Huddersfield, drawing the other match.

Exeter won first two of their nine home games against Huddersfield but have only won once since.