BOBBY Wilkinson expects a “game of chess” when Weymouth host relegation rivals Chippenham Town this evening (7.45pm).

Chippenham, in 21st, are only ahead of Weymouth by virtue of goal difference with their minus 15 tally four goals better than the Terras’.

Victory or a draw, depending on results for Cheshunt and Hampton & Richmond, could be enough for either side to escape the bottom four.

Weymouth are hunting a hat-trick of wins, while the Bluebirds have drawn their past six games and are winless in nine league matches.

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Previewing what many Terras’ fans consider to be a must-win, Wilkinson stuck to his mantra of taking each game in isolation.

He told Echosport: “I’ll be brutally honest, people surprise me when they say that. It’s just another game.

“They’re all the same, they truly are. It’s a 90-minute game, 11 against 11. We’ve prepared for it and we’re ready for it.

“It’s no bigger than Saturday, it’s just another three points that we would like to compete for.

“I understand everyone will hype it up as a big game and everyone’s entitled to their opinions.”

He added: “I know I’m sounding quite abrupt with it but I’ve been here before where we’ve had a chance to win three on the bounce.

“We’ve had a chance of getting out (of the drop zone) and we didn’t. All that speculation has to stop.

“What we have to do is concentrate on playing well for 90 minutes.

“I would like consistency because we’re in really good form. Consistency would be having another good performance.

“Every time we’ve played Saturday and then Tuesday, we haven’t ever really performed well at home.”

Wilkinson conceded Chippenham would be hard to predict, given their recent tendency for draws.

He said: “You can look at it either way as a manager. They can’t win a game but they are fantastic at not losing.

“It’s going to be a challenge for both sides. Are they going to go out and try and win it or are they going to try and sit in?

“We’re certainly going to try and win it but you don’t want to lose it at the same time.

“It’s going to be a game of chess, it’s going to be cat and mouse. I don’t expect it to be a pretty game.

“I expect it to be two teams at the bottom who don’t want to lose. One thing I will promise is that we’ll certainly be trying to win and entertain.

“We really hope the fans come out and support us. We need to make it a fortress.”

Wilkinson also offered an update on talks to extend the loans of Nahum Melvin-Lambert, David Nyarko and Brendan Willson, plus efforts to sign a centre-back.

He said: “It’s still ongoing. Nothing’s changes at this precise moment. We’re still trying to do a bit of wheeling and dealing.

“If all goes according to plan, I will have something or be told that they’re staying.”

On the potential new defender, Wilkinson added: “I’m speaking to the club and manager, nothing’s happened yet and no-one gone out.”

Wilkinson confirmed that centre-back Dan Matsuzaka cannot yet be recalled from Hendon but Ben Thomson could be in contention to feature in the matchday squad for the first time since November.

Teddy Howe (knee) is a week further behind, while Chris Francis (hamstring) continues to be assessed by parent club Bournemouth.

Elsewhere, former Weymouth striker Andy Dallas has joined Chesterfield on loan from Solihull until the end of the National League season.