So here we are again, another non-league play off campaign to endure in order to try and drag ourselves back into the EFL.
I suppose we could argue that this time, despite having to win three games instead of two, we might actually be in a better place to succeed than we were when Harrogate put us to the sword at Wembley 10 months ago.
The Bromley defeat aside Notts appear to have found form at just the right time. That said, Saturday's opponents have had a mercurial transformation of their own, especially for a club who decided to furlough a small number of players in January this year with newly appointed Manager James Rowe admitting they were not in his plans for the future.
Whatever your thoughts on The Spireites recruitment process Rowe has managed to turn things around for the North Derbyshire club and they will offer stern opposition to Notts in front of an expectant but no doubt nervy home crowd.
A look at the latest form radar suggests, as you would expect, that there is not much to choose between the two teams.
Final last 6 form table below:
Goals by time segment for Chesterfield suggests they are dangerous in the last 15 minutes of each half.
Notts' goal segment and the Magpies have had their fair share of late goals.
Lead status for both clubs and again very little to separate them.
Chesterfield enter this game on the back of a five game unbeaten run which includes four wins, the most impressive a 2-1 against a resurgent Dagenham & Redbridge. Prior to the unbeaten run they had two defeats on the trot to Torquay and Hartlepool suggesting they might still struggle a little against teams above them.
The Spireites will be without prolific striker Akwasi Asante who suffered a long term knee injury back in April, however Notts will have to be wary of ex Magpie Nathan Tyson who netted the winner for Chesterfield at Halifax to secure their play off spot.
The defeat at Bromley brought to an end an impressive seven game unbeaten run for Notts which included five wins and a hefty 18 goals scored in that seven game spell.
It seems Notts will have no short term injury concerns with Jake Reeves looking likely to shake off the knock he got at Bromley.
The bookies have Notts as favourites where you are likely to get 11/10 at best for the home win.
Chesterfield are reasonable value at 23/10 and the draw is coming in around 12/5.
Based on these odds the expected chance of a Notts win is 48% and for Chesterfield 30%.
Whichever way you look at it this is not going to be great for the nerves especially with extra time and penalties a possibility. Hopefully being at home in front of a partisan crowd will help to secure a semi final trip to the English Riviera.
Anyway, that's enough waffle for now, I think if there were sofa's in the Pavis you'd find me watching this game nervously crouched behind one of them!
COYP!
Richard
Note:
Betting odds are only used as another means to assess current form and sporting industry expectations of possible result. Notts County Stats do not endorse any form of gambling or betting industry associated businesses.