Stamford will be aiming to move back into the play-off places with victory on Saturday as they protect their impressive home record against a visiting side who have been terrific on their travels this term.

The sixth-placed Daniels host a Stratford Town side who currently occupy fourth spot in the Southern League Premier Division Central standings.

Just one point separates the play-off hopefuls with Stamford also having a game in hand on their Warwickshire visitors.

The Daniels go into the crucial clash with one of the best home records in the division having won seven of their nine league games at the Zeeco Stadium this season.

However, they host a Bards side with the leading away record with six wins and a draw from the nine league games on their travels.

It's the first game in the lead up to a hectic festive period for Graham Drury's side who were 3-1 home winners over Royston Town in their last match at the Zeeco Stadium.

The Stamford boss said: "I did feel that the last result against Royston was to make or break our season for us as we'd fallen a game behind some of the other teams in what is such a tight league that is so difficult to predict.

"It's given us a chance now to leapfrog Stratford on Saturday but they're a strong side so we've got to be at it.

"I'm expecting a really tough game against a decent side but, if we're at our best, then I feel we can beat anybody.

"If we've got everybody back then we've got a healthy squad to choose from and we'll have a real go at it because it's a big game for us.

"I always say that if we're in and around the play-offs at Christmas time then we usually start to kick on at the turn of the year."

Stamford have played just once in the last three weekends with games against Lowestoft Town and Halesowen both being postponed due to the inclement weather.

While the postponements have allowed a number of Stamford players to recover from niggling injuries with defender James Blunden among those poised to return this weekend, the Daniels now face two long midweek trips in January.

They will travel to Lowestoft on Tuesday, January 7, with the Halesowen match being rearranged for a week later.

Stamford also have a Lincolnshire Senior Cup semi-final clash at Cleethorpes Town which has been arranged for Tuesday, February 11.

Drury added: "I thought that when the fixtures came out early doors we didn't have a bad set of midweek matches.

"The weather couldn't have come at a worse time with those two games and, although the flip-side is that it's allowed players to recover from injury, the long midweek trips are another couple of hurdles that we've got to get across.

"It's what you're in the game for though and it's the luck of the draw how it works."

Stamford will conclude December when they travel to Hitchin Town next weekend before a Boxing Day derby at home to Spalding United.

They visit Stourbridge on Saturday, December 28, before starting 2025 with a trip to Biggleswade Town on New Year's Day.