Tranmere Rovers Gary Brabin says his side must play their cards right as they take close to a full selection hand into the final 12 games of the race for a National League play-off spot.

Only ex-Blues midfielder Jay Harris, starting a two match suspension, will be unavailable for the derby encounter with Chester FC at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium on Sunday lunchtime.

Brabin says defender Liam Hogan, absent since November with a knee injury, goes into the selection frame after coming through a reserve team cup tie in midweek.

So too does striker Jonny Margetts, recently returned from a loan spell at Altrincham and the scorer of two goals in the Cheshire Senior Cup success at Cammell Laird.

Read: Ian Sharps impressed at how Gary Brabin has turned Rovers into contenders

Brabin said: "Now we are coming into the final dozen games, it's important the players who were out on loan have come back and are better for the experience.

"We are getting players back up to speed. Liam Hogan is the last of the long-term injured. The squad has been strengthened."

Now Brabin says he aims to use those resources for a final push over the remaining two months of the campaign.

He said: "We are not conceding many goals at the moment. We are looking quite solid but we want to build on that. We are creating chances and we want to score more goals, win more games."

Current Tranmere Rovers manager Gary Brabin during his time with Chester City in 2001
Current Tranmere Rovers manager Gary Brabin during his time with Chester City in 2001

Tranmere, with only one point to show from their last two outings, dropped out of the promotion frame this week when Wrexham and Gateshead posted results to edge ahead of them.

Even so, Brabin is confident Tranmere's hopes of securing a top five finish remain in their own hands.

Quiz: Test your knowledge on players to have turned out for both the Blues and Rovers

He said: "It is always good to be up there. We were not getting carried away during the times in the season when we were second, third and fourth and we are not getting too disappointed about being in sixth.

"We are just focusing on ourselves. We still believe our fate is in our own hands. If we win games, we are confident we will get there."

While Brabin insists Tranmere preparations for their first league visit to Chester in a quarter a set of a century will be no different than for any game, he recognises the atmosphere should be highly charged.

"You always look forward to big games and this one has an additional incentive as a local derby," he said.

"There will be a big crowd. Chester have tried to make it so there will be more home supporters. I think there will be a good atmosphere.

"Big crowds make a difference and it's good when you can get as many as you can going to away games to support us.

"Our away supporters this season have been tremendous."

Brabin believes that in Michael Higdon, he has recruited a player who can boost Tranmere's modest goalscoring record and fire them into the play-offs.

Experienced striker Michael Higdon linked up with Tranmere after leaving Sheffield United
Experienced striker Michael Higdon linked up with Tranmere after leaving Sheffield United

However, the manager acknowledges the 32-year-old target man is playing catch up on match fitness levels after going almost two months without a competitive game before joining Tranmere from Sheffield United during the second week of February.

Brabin said: "Getting Michael up to speed is important. He's not played much football of late.

"It would be good if he could give us a goal. It would do the world of good for his confidence."

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Brabin gives little away about his selection intentions but it is a fairly safe bet that skipper Steve Jennings will come back into the side after missing the goalless draw at Aldershot and the 1-0 home defeat to Cheltenham through suspension.

The vacancy in midfield will be created by Harris's absence after the former Wrexham player collected his 10th yellow card of the season against Cheltenham.

Brabin said: "Steve Jennings was in really good form before he got suspended. It was probably an untimely suspension for us. He was playing some of his best football and enjoying it more. We were having good results with him."