WITTON Albion aim to begin the countdown to the UniBond League title on Saturday.
Manager Jim Vince believes Albion need 10 wins from their 16 games to win the championship.
“We may need a draw or two, but the title could be won with 88 points – and we have 58 now,” he said.
Albion welcome Ilkeston Town on Saturday and have a fit squad.
Ilkeston are managed by former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday star Nigel Jemson.
Vince said: “He’ll be looking forward to it because we try to play good football and so do they. But they always raise their game.”
Midfielders Dean Craven and Alex Brown returned from lengthy injuries against Curzon Ashton in the league cup, Albion’s last hope of knockout honours and, ironically, one Vince does not want.
They are now in the quarter finals and Vince said: “The semi-final against Fleetwood last year cost us five players with injuries. Our absolute priority is the title and there is no need for us to be in this cup.
“Whoever we draw our reserves will again get a chance.”
The competition rules insist a club’s starting XI must include eight first teamers.
Reserves Matt Woolley, Kurtis Gill, Tim Drohan and Tom Rutter all impressed with 17-year-old midfielder Woolley, the Cheshire U18s skipper, playing the full game.
Ex-Winsford United boss Chris Woodcock want Blues’ top scorer Les Miranda to play for him at Woodley Sports.
Woodcock led United to promotion last season before deserting in the summer. But his successor, Joe Gibiliru, is confident 20-goal Miranda will stay.
Gibiliru said: “It was a shock that he (Woodcock) would do something like that after taking several United players with him in the summer.
“The players he (Miranda) is with at the moment are providing the goals for him. It is a collective workrate as well as Les having a good touch. He appreciates that.”
Woodcock has signed defender Graeme Kay from Middlewich Town who was a target for him at the Barton Stadium last season.
Gibiliru believes he will be able to name Miranda, 32, in his line-up to face Congleton away on Saturday.
Chris Sheppard returns from injury and Blues need to relaunch their promotion bid after dropping four points in the last two games.
