HEAD coach Roxy Fearon is hoping his Derby side can rise to the occasion and clinch the Midlands One East play-off spot this weekend.
Derby need only two points from their final two matches of the regular campaign to secure the runners-up spot behind champions Peterborough Lions.
Tomorrow, they take on the only team who can catch them, Old Northamptonians, at Haslams Lane.
Derby travel to Paviors in their final league fixture but the right result against ONs will guarantee second spot – and a one-off promotion showdown against their Midlands One West counterparts as they bid for a swift return to National League Three Midlands.
"A win in either of our last two games would do the job," said Fearon.
"Ideally, we would like to do it on Saturday and go into the play-off with a bit of form but they will both be tough games.
"Paviors are scrapping for their lives to stay up and ONs are going for promotion, like us.
"They are playing well at the moment and have won their last four games."
ONs, who are at home to Huntingdon & District on the final day, have scored more than 30 points in five of their last six outings.
They only time they failed to do this was a narrow 18-17 defeat to the table-topping Lions.
Last weekend, they thrashed bottom club Coalville 77-5.
Derby, meanwhile, bounced back from successive defeats last Saturday with a crucial 33-26 victory at Newark.
They won 20-15 at ONs when the sides met earlier in the season.
"It is about mentality and coping with the pressure, when there's something on the game," said Fearon.
"That will be good for our mental development as a side.
"We have spoken about it and I'm hoping the boys will rise to the occasion."
Fearon is hoping to stick largely with the same squad as last weekend.
Centre Ben Marlow is expected to be fit after suffering a facial injury against Newark but Josh McCallion is an injury doubt.
Phil Robinson is likely to replace him at scrum half, while Ben Coombes faces a late fitness test.
"Ben Coombes will need a late check on his back," said Fearon. "If he's fit, he will probably go on the bench.
"But I don't want to make wholesale changes.
"We've had a lot of upheaval recently and it would be nice to keep a settled side together."
Another incentive for Derby is the chance to claim home advantage should they make the play-off.
The side with the most points will get to host the showpiece fixture.
As it stands, Derby are on 90 points, while the team currently second in Midlands One West, East Staffordshire rivals Burton, are on 83 but have a game in hand.
"If we win our next two games, we will also secure home advantage in the play-off," Fearon added. "So it's all to play for."
Burton, who lead Hereford by a point, host fourth-placed Stoke tomorrow.
Back in Midlands One East, Matlock's battle to avoid relegation takes them to local rivals Ilkeston tomorrow.
Back-to-back wins have given them a chance of staying up but they are currently two points away from safety.
Derby v Old Northamptonians, home, 3pm kick-off (players meet at 1.15pm): (From) A Brown, S Sharma, L Hancock, B Marlow, O Saffell, G Castledine, P Robinson, S Long, C Innocent, T Sefton, C Esberger, L Frixou, C Brown, C White, T Taylor-Dawes, B Coombes, E Atherton, S Tebbs, J Reid.
Derby 2nd XV v Old Northamptonians, home, 3pm kick-off (players meet at 1.15pm): (From) G Campbell, B Carr, L Thompson, J Barker, A Norris, P Maddocks, M Shaw, S Moon, N Payne, M Erwin, S Goosey, A N Other, S Thompson, J Coombs, A N Other, M Johns, A Lambert.
![Rugby union: Derby coach Roxy Fearon wants players to get the job done against Old Northamptonians]( "Rugby union: Derby coach Roxy Fearon wants players to get the job done against Old Northamptonians")
