Lucas Akins (Burton Albion)

Pre season friendly. Burton Albion v Birmingham City. Lucas Akins and Demarai Gray

It’s Burton’s 12th season in the Football League, and they’re well placed to win promotion to the Championship for the first time.

Nigel Clough’s side top League I with a six-point advantage over nearest rivals Wigan Athletic and Walsall.

Albion host Oldham Athletic on Easter Saturday and are away to Millwall on Monday, with both ganes live on Sky.

Huddersfield-born Town academy product Akins, 27, has netted eight times this term.

He has been at Burton since this summer before last and top scored with 10 in last season’s League II title triumph.

Having made six substitute appearances for Town, Akins was released in 2008.

He plied his trade for Scottish sides Partick Thistle and Hamilton Academical before returning to England with Tranmere Rovers in 2010.

Akins had a two-year stint at Stevenage before joining Burton.

Anthony Gerrard (Oldham Athletic)

Anthony Gerrard

Everton product Gerrard joined Town from Cardiff City in 2012.

The centre-back had two seasons as a regular in the Championship before falling out of favour under Chris Powell.

He had a loan stint at Oldham before his release last summer.

It took the 30-year-old a while to get his career back on track, and he played for free for Shrewsbury Town in a bid to win a contract.

Gerrard signed for Oldham in January and has featured nine times.

The Latics are struggling for League I survival and are third-bottom.

After visiting leaders Burton on Saturday, when Gerrard will try to quell the threat of Akins, Chesterfield visit on Monday.

Points are clearly crucial if they are to avoid playing in the fourth tier for the first time since 1971.

Adam Hammill (Barnsley)

Skybet Championship - Hull City (2) v Huddersfield Town (0) - Adam Hammill.

It’s been a campaign of contrasts for the Reds - as well as winger Hammill, who ended up at Oakwell in early November after leaving Town by mutual consent in August.

When the 28-year-old arrived, Barnsley were in the League I relegation zone after eight straight league losses.

Now, under the caretaker managership of local lad Paul Heckingbottom following Lee Johnson’s move to Bristol City, they are chasing a play-off spot and looking forward to a trip to Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

The sixth-placed Oakwell side face Oxford United and Joe Skarz in the big showpiece a week on Sunday, April 3.

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Before that come key league dates at home to Scunthorpe United (Good Friday) and at Port Vale on Monday.

Hammill, in his second spell at Barnsley, has made 20 appearances for them this season, scoring five goals.

His time at Town was hampered by off-field issues.

Joe Skarz (Oxford United)

Rotherham United v Birmingham City at the New York stadium in the sky bet championship, in action, Andrew Shinnie and Joe Skarz

The last 30 years have been eventful for Oxford.

They have played at five different levels, from the top flight to the National League (aka Conference).

The U’s got back into the Football League in 2010.

Having failed to finish above eighth in the last five seasons, they are currently second in League II under Michael Appleton, who has former Town coach Derek Fazackerley among his backroom staff.

Huddersfield-born left-back Skarz came through Town’s academy and made 81 Town appearances before moving to Bury in 2010.

He won successive promotions from League II to the Championship with Rotherham United.

Skarz joined Oxford on a short-term deal in January 2015 and signed a three-year contract in the summer.

The U’s host Stevenage on Friday and go to Cambridge United on Monday.

James Berrett (York City)

Town academy product and former Republic of Ireland Under 21 international Berrett has been on a grand tour since departing the John Smith’s in 2010.

The 27-year-old midfielder from Golcar played for Carlisle United and Yeovil Town before a summer switch to York.

The Minstermen dropped out of the Football League in 2004 and served eight seasons in the Conference (now National League) before promotion through the play-offs in 2012.

After League II finished of 17th, seventh and 18th, York are currently battling for survival.

Jackie McNamara’s men are second-bottom and five points adrift of safety.

So the pressure is on as they prepare to host Crawley Town on Friday before heading to Plymouth Argyle on Monday.

Berrett, who has played 33 times and scored five goals this season, has a York contract through to 2017.

Can he help them avoid another Football League exit?