NPL preview | Top-six rivals collide as Cleethorpes look to move further clear

There are two matches coming up which see teams in the play-off spots come up against one another.

The first takes place at the Vestacare Stadium, where second-placed Avro host fourth-placed Guiseley.

Wins for both in midweek mean they come into the latest round of games as the division's two in-form sides - Avro collecting 25 points from their last 10 matches and Guiseley three fewer.

Avro come into this one unbeaten at home in their five league games so far, while Ian Richards' Guiseley have lost just once on the road in the NPL this season.

In the table the pair sit either side of Redcar Athletic, who will hope to collect three points on their travels at Ilkeston Town.

Redcar saw their unbeaten start abruptly ended by Curzon Ashton in midweek, and Carl Jarrett's side will hope to respond at the first attempt against an Ilkeston side that are on a 10-game winless run in the league.

The other encounter featuring two high-flying sides comes at the HPS Plant Hire Stadium as league leaders Cleethorpes Town host Warrington Rylands.

It will be no easy task for the table-topping Owls, against a Rylands side that are six matches unbeaten in the league after coming from two goals down to earn a point at Leek Town in midweek.

Elsewhere on Saturday, two more top-half sides do battle as Alfreton Town host Bury.

Lancaster City and Hyde United, both of whom are on the fringes of the top half, travel to Warrington Town and Curzon Ashton respectively.

Curzon currently occupy the final play-off place but know there are four sides in the table who could realistically take their spot this weekend, should they come away from their latest outing empty-handed.

Workington will seek to go nine league games unbeaten when they travel to Quorn, who are the only side in the division yet to win at home this season in the NPL.

Any slip-up from the Methodists could see them end the weekend in the bottom four, with Emley and Bamber Bridge in hot pursuit.

Bamber Bridge could've climbed above Quorn on Tuesday night, having led 3-0 at Emley, but bad fog saw that game abandoned at half-time.

Next up for the Brig is a trip to Whitby Town, who are only two points above the relegation zone.

The Seasiders' home form has been particularly troubling, having lost five of their six games, and they come into Saturday off the back of a heavy 6-2 defeat at home to Gainsborough Trinity in midweek.

Gainsborough are on their travels again this Saturday, facing off against Emley.

There is another big game to watch out for towards the bottom as Stockton Town welcome bottom club FC United of Manchester to the north-east.

Stockton climbed out of the bottom four after defeating Bury in midweek, and next up for the Anchors is an FC United side that are already five points from safety after a poor start to the season.

The final clash of the weekend takes place in Staffordshire, where Leek Town host Ashton United.

The sides are separated by just two points in the table, and Leek will hope to climb above a Robins outfit that are four games without a win on their travels in the league. 

All games will kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise.

Fixtures - Saturday 10 October

• Alfreton Town vs Bury
• Avro vs Guiseley
• Cleethorpes Town vs Warrington Rylands
• Curzon Ashton vs Hyde United
• Emley vs Gainsborough Trinity
• Ilkeston Town vs Redcar Athletic
• Leek Town vs Ashton United
• Quorn vs Workington
• Stockton Town vs FC United of Manchester
• Warrington Town vs Lancaster City
• Whitby Town vs Bamber Bridge

Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.