LEE CLARK will kick the TV remote into touch in favour of a training session as Town hope for a helping hand from Plymouth this afternoon.
Automatic promotion rivals Southampton head to Home Park knowing victory will all but clinch second spot in League I and leave Town in the play-offs.
But Argyle, bossed by Clark’s former Sunderland manager Peter Reid, are desperate for the win which would preserve their hopes of avoiding relegation.
It would also take the battle to go up alongside champions Brighton to the final games on Saturday, when Town host Brentford and Saints are at home to Walsall.
Town and Southampton are level on 86 points after winning at Brighton (3-2) and Brentford (3-0) respectively, but Saints have a superior goal difference (44 to 29).
“Fair play to Southampton – the two of us are both on unbelievable runs,” said Clark, whose side are unbeaten in 24 in the league and have won 10 of their last 13 games.
“I certainly won’t give up on automatic promotion – how could I when my players put so much effort into beating Brighton?
“They could have settled for a point but kept pressing and got the winner, and while Southampton are in the driving seat, they’re not there yet.
“Peter Reid is a winner and if Plymouth can do us a favour, there will be a couple of bottles of the best available red going down there.
“But there will be no teletext checking. We won’t look at their result until after the final whistle, because we’ll be preparing for Brentford, a game we want to win whatever the scenario.”
