Altrincham will aim to close the gap to the play-off places when welcoming Southend to J Davidson Stadium. Phil Parkinson’s side have good reason to expect a positive outcome on a count of losing only one home league encounter this season. Half of those have been draws, but being hard to beat is not a bad thing.

Even taking into account their away record and also cup ties, this is a team that has lost only once inside 90 minutes across their previous 12. They began the campaign losing three of their opening five league assignments but that is very much a thing of the past, Alty reached the play-offs last season, so they expect to be in and around the top-half. Even last season, only Chesterfield and Barnet had stronger home records in National League.

Southend have been a little more up-and-down of late. They are favourites to win here but easy reservations can be found against backing them at a shorter price. They had excuses losing at home to Yeovil last time out given they had their goalkeeper sent off but they tend to lose matches in patches this season. Four of their five league losses prior to last Saturday came back-to-back, so they are easy enough to pass for win purposes.

It is also tough to ignore the goal threat of the home side, despite the fact they are heavily overachieving on their league xG. Finding ways to score goals is not necessarily a bad thing, even if over long-term it may catch up with them. Still, Altrincham have scored at least two goals in eight of their last 11 contests in all competitions.

Bottom of the table Ebbsfleet will be hoping to secure only a second league victory of the campaign, which would be enough to see them propel into double digit points. To say it has been a testing season so far is something of an understatement for Harry Watling and his team. However, they’ve at least got back-to-back league draws to their name.

Solihull Moors are having a much better time of it in comparison. Last season’s play-off finalists head into this weekend just three points behind the top-seven. This is a team with only one loss across their previous nine in all competitions, so there is a big power of difference between both outfits at present. But, there are also common elements that bring these two together, and that is goals.

In the case of Saturday’s away side, goals have followed them all season long. In National League action, they are joint-top of the table regarding most of their games involving both teams scoring – 70.59% of their league battles have done so. Despite their strong form and being an expected play-off contender, they’ve earned just two league clean sheets this season; one fewer than Ebbsfleet. Their league xG is also ranked fourth out of all clubs at this level.

Ebbsfleet naturally have issues conceding goals, which is why they sit bottom of the table. Unsurprisingly, this is a team with the worst defensive record in the division. Knowing how their opponents aren’t the most solid defensively will offer some hope for the hosts to be competitive in this fixture and the fact they’ve only failed to score in two of their last 12 in all competitions demonstrates an increased goal threat of late.

Undoubtedly the top match of the weekend at this level comes from The New Lawn Stadium when Forest Green entertain York in what is a top-two battle. Although Rovers being high up in the standings isn’t much of a shock, they face a City side enjoying a much better than expected campaign. They finished one place and one point above the relegation zone last season. That was then and this is now, and this clash will really say a lot about if they can stay the course.

York have yet to face any of the top-seven away from home, so this trip to Gloucestershire will be their toughest so far. Manager Adam Hinshelwood could be tempted to slightly change their approach, which would take something away from what has ultimately got them to the top in the first place. Travelling to an opponent with 16 out of a possible 18 home league points so far looks a daunting prospect.

Some analysts may argue a degree of fortune for Forest Green to be where they are. This is because although netting 33 league goals, their xG stands at 19.85. However, overachieving in this category is no bad thing, as it ultimately means they are a team finding ways to score goals.

Experience will also be key on an occasion like this. York have a younger squad, whereas Forest Green have more experienced regular starters like Liam Sercombe, Ben Tozer, Ryan Inniss and Christian Doidge that have been there, seen it and done it at this level. That could be telling in a clash such as this.