Under-performing Farsley face a crunch hosting of rock-bottom Hucknall Town, kick-off 3pm, and a home win is essential with the Celts labouring down in 16th place in Blue Square North.

Craig Bentham (foot), Jamie Price (hamstring) and Andy Campbell (calf) remain injured but Firbank expects more – even allowing for those key absences.

"We've not been able to get our strongest team out but we've got a strong squad of players and they have not been performing as they should have," said Firbank. "We're looking for a reaction.

"Saturday is massive and it's absolutely vitally important that we get back to winning ways. It's not panic stations at this moment in time and what really matters is the next eight months or whatever it is between now and next year.

"However, if the squad is not performing and we are not picking up the points, we will have to look at it and see where we are – as we already have been."

Meanwhile, there are no such troubles at Harrogate Town who look to banish bad memories of Stafford Rangers tomorrow with what chairman Bill Fotherby rates as their best-ever side.

Town suffered heartbreak at Stafford in 2006 when a 1-0 defeat ended their promotion bid in the play-off semi-final. Now they return sitting just one point off leaders Southport and Fotherby has maximum confidence in this season's side.

"The side is better than it's ever been," declared Fotherby. "It's the best side we've had – they play football, they have a brilliant attitude and Neil Aspin is over the moon with them."

Town have began brightly as they bid to recover from last season's gut-wrenching disappointment when they only fell out of the top five in the final week of the season.

Three years out of the last four Town have crumbled at the death but, forget the play-offs, Fotherby insists the Blue Square North title is within their sights.

"I fancy us for the title, I fancy us, I really do," said Fotherby.

"We know who the main dangers are – the top teams like Stalybridge and Southport – but I'm not worried at all.

"We've played Southport and we must remember we were without two of our regular first team players. I'm very confident."