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[Darren]

Preview: Weymouth v Alty
By Connor Murphy
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ALTY'S Blue Square Premier status is hanging by a thread as they go into tomorrow's must win clash with Weymouth.

Manager Graham Heathcote said his team are approaching the game as a 'cup final', with defeat simply not an option if they are to avoid relegation.

Even three points might not be enough to save them, with Halifax needing just a draw to escape the drop themselves.

But Heathcote is remaining firmly focussed on the task in front of his own side and has promised fans they will give it their all.

He said: "For four or five years we have had cup finals at the end of the season, so it's the same principle tomorrow. We'll approach it in the same way.

"We have had five turbulent years but I firmly believe we are still going forwards as a club.

"Tomorrow's game just keeps up the topsy-turvy season and we have to look forward to it.

"I don't believe the pressure is on. Pressure is when people are dying or starving and football is a mild pressure in the context of the pressures of life.

"But we have a job to do and we'll do our best to make sure we do it."

There are no new injury concerns for the Robins, with just on-loan left back Ryan Lynch and veteran midfielder Val Owen still sidelined.

Alty were due to travel down to Weymouth this evening, staying the night in the town before undergoing a light training session tomorrow morning.

The home team, meanwhile, will be without midfielder Mark Convery, who is still serving a suspension, although Marcus Browning and Paolo Vernazza should return after overcoming injury problems.

Weymouth may have nothing to play for in their final game after securing survival with a point against Aldershot in midweek but the Dorset side are still looking to finish with a flourish.

The Terras are unbeaten in five and manager John Hollins is determined to extend that run at Alty's expense.

He said: "Nothing less than a win will be enough for Altrincham but we want to finish on a high note as well.

"We are unbeaten in our last five and we want to finish with three draws and three wins, which always sounds better.

"We have been aiming to find consis-tency and picking up points from six games against very different opposition would be exactly that and it will give us something to build on for next season.

"I think the draw at Aldershot on Tuesday showed how far we have come. Everyone did their jobs to the maximum and it really was a fantastic performance."

6:31pm Friday 25th April 2008