ONE player has more reason than most to hope Town reach the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

A May 31 date against either Northampton or Mansfield at the Cardiff venue might just give Nathan Clarke a fighting chance of being fit.

The 20-year-old defender - selected in the Nationwide Division III Team of the Season - has been out since March because of a left ankle injury which required surgery.

He is now well on the road to recovery, however, and manager Peter Jackson wouldn't back against the Academy product being a candidate come the end of the month.

"Nathan is progressing well and, obviously, he is following a schedule of work to get himself back to full fitness," said Jackson, whose squad will be back in McAlpine action against Lincoln on Wednesday (7.45) after today's play-off semi-final first leg at Sincil Bank.

"We don't want anything to upset Clarkey's rehabilitation by pushing him too hard, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had an outside chance of being ready for the date of the Division III final on May 31."

With skipper Efe Sodje now back from suspension and back-up available in the shape of Ian Hughes (who has a shoulder injury at the moment) and Paul Scott, there is no desperate need for Clarke to push too hard.

He had already targeted fitness by June and, after a short break, to be completely ready to join in pre-season training - something he missed a year ago.

Clarke is a key player, however, and it's a fact illustrated by his capture of the trophy for most Examiner Man of the Match awards last season.

Despite making only 27 starts in League and Cup, plus one substitute appearance, he was top performer with seven awards, one clear of 18-goal striker Jon Stead (who played 31 times before his move to Blackburn).