STEVE YATES has heaped praise on the teammates who gave him their most prized accolade and is backing them to clinch promotion for Town at Cheltenham.

The 34-year-old was voted the Players' Player of the Year and is delighted with the honour in such an eventful McAlpine season.

It's a remarkable eighth career award for Yates, who is with his fifth club, but he's hoping the biggest celebration is still to come down at Whaddon Road tomorrow (3.00).

"I have never met a bunch of players who work so hard for the club, the shirt and for each other as this Town squad," said Yates, who will make his 38th senior start in the final Division III fixture.

"They really are a marvellous bunch of lads and I just hope they get what they deserve tomorrow at Cheltenham, which is promotion.

"We don't want to rely on anyone else's results.

"We struck lucky with Torquay drawing last weekend, so it's still in our own hands, and I've no doubt the lads are going to give it everything to get the result we all want so badly."

Three points would guarantee a place in Division II at the first attempt.

One point will not be good enough if Torquay win at Southend, because the Plainmoor side have a better goal difference.

Torquay know they must win, however, to stand any chance of going up automatically, and that puts them under pressure.

"We've been in third place for a month now after a terrific second half to the season, and we don't want to let it slip on the final day," explained Yates.

"Earlier, when we were a long way behind, we might have settled for a play-off spot, but we've come so far that automatic promotion is the only thing in our sights."

On his award, Yates added; "I've really enjoyed myself this season and it is a fantastic honour."

Town will be followed by 1,740 fans tomorrow, while up to 7,000 will watch big-screen live action at the McAlpine (gates open 1.30 in the John Smith's Stand and it's £10 for adults and £5 concessions).

Cheltenham's biggest gate of the season is only 5,319 for the visit of Oxford in September, but that could tumble tomorrow. Capacity at Whaddon Road is 7,407.

Cheltenham (probable): Higgs, Wilson, M Duff, S Duff or Brough, Victory, Devaney, Bird, Forsythe, McCann, Brayson, Spencer. Subs: Gill, Taylor, Cleverley, Odejayi, Book.

Town (from): Rachubka, Holdsworth, Lloyd, Mirfin, Yates, Scott, Carss, Worthington, Booth, McAliskey, Abbott, Senior, Fowler, Onuora, Brown, Edwards, Hughes, Harkins.

Referee - Scott Mathieson (Stockport).