WHEN Chris Todd was an aspiring young defender in south Wales, Tranmere Rovers were plying their trade in the second tier of English football.  

Fast forward a couple of decades and the fallen Prenton Park outfit will visit Todd’s Spitfires on Saturday for a massive Vanarama National League promotion ‘six-pointer’ which could give the winners a vital leg-up into the play-offs.

Things could hardly be tighter in the battle for fifth spot with Eastleigh, sixth, trailing Braintree on goal difference, while Gary Brabin’s Tranmere are three points behind in seventh with two games to play.

It’s been a sobering few years for the Birkenhead club who qualified for the Championship play-offs in 1995, reached the League Cup final against Leicester City at Wembley in 2000 and topped the League One table as recently as January 2013.

“I can remember when Tranmere were in the Championship,” said Todd. “They were a big club then – and they still are, it’s just that they’re in the Conference.

“Now we’re clashing horns with them in a massive game, both fighting to get into the play-offs. I just hope it’s us who come out on top.”

Eastleigh missed the chance to leapfrog Braintree on Tuesday, held 0-0 at struggling FC Halifax. But, far from being disappointed, Todd was chuffed with a precious point.

“When I took over (at the end of September) we were 11th and I don’t think anyone’s mind was really on the play-offs, but we’ve given ourselves a great chance now,” he enthused.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get where we are and it’s all come down to two games.

“It feels like we’re in the play-offs already. It’s like cup football now having to win games to get through.

“We’re going to need all the experience we’ve got and if we scrape in, then so be it.

“Above all I want the lads to relax and enjoy it. When we’re enjoying our football, we do well. When we’re up tight, we’re not so good.”

Eastleigh were originally anticipating 600-1,000 Tranmere fans travelling from The Wirral, but that has been scaled down to 400-500.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Todd. “It won’t be decided tomorrow but it will have a massive impact on how things shape up.

“The point at Halifax was pleasing. It was a difficult game and we could easily have lost, but it worked out ok.”

Eastleigh beat Tranmere 2-1 at Prenton Park in Todd’s third game in charge – an afternoon of mixed fortunes for match-winner James Constable who was sent off in an ill-tempered clash that ended 10 v 10.

Top scorer Constable had his appendix out last Saturday and is almost certainly ruled out for the rest of the season, but Todd said: “You never know, he might turn up to watch on Saturday. That would bring a smile to the lads’ faces, I’m sure.”