THE Vanarama National League play-off chase has entered its final month – and Eastleigh’s squad is gathering strength at just the right time.

Ben Strevens and, hopefully, fellow midfielder Andy Drury will be back in contention on Saturday as the Spitfires bid to stretch their unbeaten run to six games at home to relegation-battling Guiseley.

Strevens, appointed Chris Todd’s right-hand man in place of the departed Shaun North, has completed a seven-match suspension, while Drury came through training unscathed this morning after almost a month out injured.

“It was a niggle more than anything with Dukes (Drury), but it kept coming back,” said Todd. “But he trained with the team today for the first time in a while and hopefully there’s no reaction.”

Matty Fanimo’s surprise return has also given the Spitfires squad a timely boost.

The flying winger, one of the fastest footballers on the planet, joined the club in October but quietly disappeared off the scene in the midst of the Spitfires’ headline-hitting FA Cup run.

It looked like the end of the road for the 22-year-old ex-West Ham youngster, but Todd has given him a second chance.

Explaining Fanimo’s reappearance for Good Friday’s game against Welling, Todd said: “When Matty was with us before he was finding it difficult to get into the team. He was cup-tied and for X,Y,Z reasons he lost his fitness drastically and went off the radar.

“It was my decision really. I didn’t feel it was working and I told him to go and get himself fit.

“He’s a good talent and I never doubted his ability, but he was getting frustrated and I didn’t believe he was digging deep enough to keep himself fit.

“But he’s gone away and worked with his personal trainer and, to be fair to him, he’s come back and is working extremely hard to try and earn himself a contract for next season.”

Saturday's game has a lot riding on it for both clubs.

Eastleigh’s springtime resurgence has thrust them right back into the promotion hunt, poised just two points outside the play-offs in seventh.

Guiseley, in contrast, are fighting for survival having been promoted through the Conference North play-offs last term.

Their Nethermoor Park home has just secured the Grade A status needed to remain in the National League, but they still have work to do on the park. The Lions - without a league win in nine games - are 18th, three points above the drop zone.

As always, Todd’s sole focus is on Eastleigh. “There’s lots at stake at the business end of the season and we know what we’ve got to do,” he said. “We’ve given a good account of ourselves so far - let’s just go for it!"