So it all comes down to this. Six games to secure a place in the Football League without having to go through the drama of the play-offs.

Rightly or wrongly, the Conference title race now has three runners and there are no “little horses” in this one, just three thoroughbred stallions.

Barnet have blown an 11-point lead but still find themselves top, a point clear of Bristol Rovers – bidding for an immediate return to the 72 – in second.

In third are the outsiders, Grimsby Town – one of only three sides not to drop a point against Martin Allen’s men this season.

With the season ending in exactly one month from now, we assess the chances of Conference title hopefuls.

Barnet – 1st

Played: 40, won: 24, drawn: 6, lost: 10, for: 85, against: 44, points: 78.

To play: Alfreton Town (A), Nuneaton Town (H), Dartford (A), FC Halifax Town (H), Kidderminster Harriers (A), Gateshead (H).

Last six: Won 5-0 v Welling United, drew 1-1 at FC Halifax Town, won 2-1 at Eastleigh, lost 3-1 v Forest Green Rovers, won 3-1 at Altrincham, lost 3-1 v Grimsby Town.

The Bees should not be in this position but like it or lump it, they are. And like clubs relegated out of the Football League, the sooner you accept and embrace your position, the easier it is to kick on and make the best of it.

Boasting the Conference’s top scorer and force of nature John Akinde, Barnet have the wherewithal to conjure up points where they don’t deserve them. And to a large extent that is exactly what they were doing until recently.

Defeats against Lincoln City, Grimsby (twice) and Forest Green Rovers rocked Barnet's procession to the title and it is testament to the strength of character in the side they have been able to wrestle back top spot.

With three victories in their last six the Bees will be hopeful their blip has been and gone just before the crunch.

Next four Alfreton, Nuneaton, Dartford and Halifax all have something to play for but only Halifax are at the right end of the table.

If there is one thing Allen’s side have done routinely this season, it is beat the strugglers. Of the current bottom ten, only Torquay United have beaten the Bees this season.

Times Series: Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke. Picture: Action ImagesBristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke. Picture: Action Images

Bristol Rovers – 2nd

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To play: Macclesfield Town (A), Chester (H), Kidderminster Harriers (A), Southport (H), Dover Athletic (A), Alfreton Town (H).

Last six: Won 3-1 v Aldershot Town, drew 2-2 at FC Halifax Town, lost 2-1 at Eastleigh, won 1-0 at Gateshead, won 2-1 v Braintree Town, won 1-0 v Altrincham.

Presenting the most clear and present threat to the Bees are Bristol Rovers. A juggernaut until recently, Darrell Clarke’s side have only lost once in 23 Conference fixtures, though that could have been back-to-back losses had it not been for a late two-goal recovery at Halifax.

That ‘wobble’ was arrested with a 3-1 home with over improving Aldershot Town and it is unsurprising the Gas have the best home record in the division. Backed by some 7,000 Gasheads, the Memorial Stadium is undoubtedly an intimidating atmosphere and a factor in their title tilt.

Rovers have a similar run-in the Bees, with Saturday’s trip to fourth-placed Macclesfield Town – owners of the division’s second-best home record – a real banana skin for Clarke and co.

With a goal difference of 23 to Barnet’s 41, Rovers know they must better Barnet’s results to overhaul the Bees as they quite simply will not out-shoot Allen’s men.

Matty Taylor’s 14 goals make him the Pirates’ top scorer but Ellis Harrison’s seven goals have come from just three starts. Nathan Blissett – Barnet’s tormentor whilst at Kiddy – has a good return of one in three too.

It is plain sailing after Macclesfield and none of their following five opponents have beaten the Gas this term. All eyes turn to Moss Rose at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Times Series: Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst. Picture: Action ImagesGrimsby Town boss Paul Hurst. Picture: Action Images

Grimsby Town – 3rd

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To play: Welling United (A), Gateshead (H), Alfreton Town (A), Wrexham (H), Southport (A), Aldershot Town (H).

Last six: Won 1-0 at Dover Athletic, won 2-1 v Eastleigh, drew 2-2 at Chester, won 2-1 at Woking, won 1-0 v Braintree Town, won 1-0 v AFC Telford United.

Momentum is the buzz word in any promotion tussle at this time of year and the Mariners emphatically have it. Six wins from their last season and only two defeats in their last 12, Paul Hurst’s side have overhauled Macclesfield to join the race at the last.

Twice mightily impressive in defeating Barnet, Town arguably have the most favourable run-in, with only Gateshead in the top half – and with a mere 162 miles separating the two sides, it won’t be the expedition it is for much of the rest of the division.

The pressure is off the Mariners due to their status as the third side in this title race and that will undoubtedly play to their favour. What won’t is the fact they still trail Barnet by three points and have only a marginally better goal difference than Bristol Rovers.

Fifteen-goal top-scorer Lenell John-Lewis is inconsistent and divides opinion among Grimsby supporters but the burly frontman has two in his last two. Jon-Paul Pittman is the Cleethorpes side’s next-highest scorer with nine but five of those have come in his last ten outings.

There is no doubting the quality of players such as Shaun Pearson and Craig Disley either. Discount the Mariners at your peril.