Boss Jamie Vermiglio says it can all change for Chorley with a couple of victories

The Magpies prop up the table – six points adrift of second-from-bottom AFC Fylde.

Officially they are 12 points from safety – although that theoretically could be 11 points if only the bottom three are relegated but that is dependent on where Bury return in the football pyramid next season.

It is looking increasingly likely that Vermiglio’s men are heading back to the National League North just a season after winning promotion via the play-offs.

However, the manager insists his team will continue to believe that they can rescue themselves until it is mathematically impossible.

With 12 games left to play, Vermiglio admits the Magpies are totally up against it.

But he has guaranteed that his men will continue to fight – believing that a couple of consecutive wins – starting with the visit of Barnet to Victory Park on Saturday – could hand them a lifeline.

“There’s never been a question of our mentality,” said Vermiglio, who felt his side were arguably the better side against Ebbsfleet United despite losing 1-0.

“The lads are working hard and hopefully they will continue to work hard between now and the end of the season.

“Training this week has been about us getting realigned and refocused on the job in hand, which is about getting three points this weekend against Barnet.

“Two weeks ago, we played Yeovil, who are going for promotion, and drew 1-1 – conceding a goal with two minutes to go.

“We should have had three points and last weekend, we were the better side, so we should be sat here now with six points from those two games.

“If we had have done that, we would be level with Fylde and within touching distance of the teams above us. So in two games’ time, we could be just a matter of a few points behind – that’s how close it could.

“We have 36 points to play for and we really need to get 25 points to have any chance.

“If we were at the other end of the table like last season and needed 25 points from 36 to win promotion, you would say that’s doable.” Barnet are currently 13th with an outside chance of reaching the play-offs. They won the first game between the sides 2-1 at The Hive.

“It is going to be tough,” said Vermiglio. “We took the lead at their place when Marcus Carver scored an overhead kick before they came back.

“We’ll go into the game with confidence and hopefully we can get something from it.”