Caretaker boss Jon McCarthy reckons Chester FC will be safe from relegation with victory against Welling United regardless of results elsewhere.
Three points will guarantee another season in the National League should Boreham Wood lose at Aldershot Town and Altrincham fail to beat Eastleigh, but McCarthy thinks how other teams fare will not matter should the Blues win.
That would leave Chester on 48 points and with at least a four point cushion over the bottom four with two games to go.
Following his first full week in charge after the fan-owned club sacked Steve Burr, McCarthy said he was determined to complete his mission of leading the club to safety this weekend rather than risk it coming down to the final game of the season when the Blues host Gateshead.
"If we win on Saturday even without how the other results go then I think we're safe and I think that's what's built the excitement," said McCarthy, who has confirmed his interest in taking on the manager's role on a permanent basis .
"I look at Halifax in the week and to not go and beat Kidderminster and now they've got Cheltenham, Forest Green and Eastleigh, they suddenly have a tough run.
"For us, you wouldn't want it to come down to Gateshead at home so this is our game and that's what we said right at the beginning. We will treat Saturday like it's the last game of the season and everything is aimed at this one game to get the result and that's how we've trained this week.
"Without being disrespectful to Steve and what he did because it's the same players and they've always worked hard to try and get the results, but we've been able to implement a slight change of philosophy which makes a big difference.
Read: Jon McCarthy confirms desire to become Chester's next manager
"On Saturday we will reinforce the work we've done and tell the players to be confident. There will be a different feel around the ground, I sense the fans, and we know they've been frustrated, will come on Saturday and go 'we all want to do this' and make sure it happens.
"I will try and get that through to the players. It will be different to previous weeks where the first mistake they went under and I've stressed that.
"It's a time to come together and go and get the result and then there's talking to do after. I'm really excited and confident about the performance on Saturday."
Welling dropped to the bottom of the table with a 2-1 defeat against Kidderminster Harriers last weekend and Dean Frost's team are doomed to relegation, however the Wings claimed a shock win at play-off chasing Tranmere Rovers in their previous game and while McCarthy is wary of that, the ex-Northern Ireland international is confident of getting a positive result.
"Welling had that win at Tranmere where they were able to build on the opposition having pressure and I suppose we have that from the different end of the table," said McCarthy.
"I think the result at Kidderminster the other week was significant because they had a little bit of momentum and if they'd have beat then they would have been coming to Chester and might have thought 'hang on' but I think that knocked them significantly.
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"They are where they are in the table and that's the bit that doesn't lie. Over the course of the season we have proven that we are better and we know what they can do because they evidenced it against Tranmere but we need to know where we're at and have some confidence about that."
Chester picked up a number of knocks in l ast weekend's 2-1 loss at Lincoln City and will be without teenage midfielder Sam Hughes (concussion) with doubts over Ben Heneghan (knee), Luke George (hamstring) and Ross Hannah (hamstring).
McCarthy is hopeful Heneghan and George will be able to feature but top scorer Hannah looks set to miss out with Kane Richards in contention to take his place alongside James Alabi.
McCarthy said: "What I want do is take any chances, I won't put people out who aren't right and I can spot that now.
"Some of them will go through fitness tests and if they break down then that will make the decision but for some I might have to break it to them and say I don't think you're at we need you to be.
"They're all really keen to play because I think the rest of the players need to be clear. There's been a real clarity about what we've done this week and that needs to be reflected in people knowing whether they are playing or not."
