Preview: Solihull Moors vs. Eastleigh - prediction, team news, lineups

Eastleigh will attempt to sneak into the National League playoffs when they travel to Solihull Moors on the final day of the campaign.

The eighth-place Spitfires are currently only outside of the top seven on goal difference and are one of five teams involved in a thrilling fight for two remaining spots in the end of season lottery.

Match preview

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Just two points separate Wrexham in sixth and Halifax Town in 10th in the National League table, with Chesterfield, Eastleigh and Bromley all locked in together on 66 points in between.

Halifax and Chesterfield meet in what should be a tense affair, while Bromley host fifth-place Notts County and Wrexham travel to midtable Dagenham and Redbridge.

Eastleigh had hoped to break into the top seven when they played their game in hand against Altrincham on Tuesday night but only drew 1-1 at Moss Lane. Tyrone Barnett headed them in front just after half time, but Ryan Colclough levelled with 12 minutes to play.

The Spitfires had won their previous four games to boost their chances of competing in the playoffs for the first time since 2015 – their first campaign at this level, but they have never reached the Football League.

Ben Strevens's side have scored the fewest goals in the top half of the National League, with only Barnett, Joe Tomlinson and Ben House netting more than three times. However, only champions Sutton United and third-place Stockport County have conceded fewer.

Solihull Moors' slim hopes of getting into the playoffs were ended on Tuesday night as they drew 1-1 against struggling King's Lynn. The West Midlands outfit trailed at half time following Ross Barrows's header on the half hour mark, but Adam Rooney provided the equaliser nine minutes after the break.

The result extended the Moors' unbeaten run to six games and left them 11th in the National League table. They can finish no higher, having ended up ninth in last year's curtailed campaign.

Were it not for a run of one win in 10 games that led to the sacking of James Shan in March, their chances of breaking into the top seven would have been a lot higher.

The Moors have a remarkable home record – they have won six consecutive matches at Damson Park under new boss Mark Yates and are unbeaten in their last nine games there since he took over. Only Sutton have picked up more points and scored more goals on home turf this season.

Joe Sbarra scored a 93rd-minute equaliser for Solihull Moors when they last faced Eastleigh in a 1-1 draw at the start of February.

Team News

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Solihull Moors top scorer Kyle Hudlin has been linked with a move to the Football League this week so could play his last game for the club on Saturday.

However, the 6ft 9in striker has only started one of the last four matches, with Yates tending to prefer Adam Rooney upfront.

In fact, the lone striker role is the only selection dilemma Yates has faced in recent weeks, with all 10 other players unchanged in the last three games.

Eastleigh have named the same starting XI for their last two matches and could do so again as they have no fresh injury concerns.

Goalkeeper Joe McDonnell and centre-back Andrew Boyce have both started every league game this season, with the former playing every minute and the latter missing just three.

Despite playing at left-back, Tomlinson has four goals in his last six appearances and 11 across the whole season – helped by the fact he is on penalty duty.

Solihull Moors possible starting lineup:
Boot; Thompson, Williams, Cameron, Cranston; Storer, Maycock; Addai, Ball, Sbarra; Rooney

Eastleigh possible starting lineup:
McDonnell; Partington, Boyce, Bird, Tomlinson; Miley, Hollands, Payne, Green; Barnett, House

We say: Solihull Moors 1-1 Eastleigh

Both teams are ending the season in strong form, so this is a tough one to call. There is of course far more on the line for Eastleigh, which could work in the Spitfires' favour or it may pile the pressure on them. We think it will end level, which will not do much to help the visitors' playoff ambitions.