Stockport County boss Dave Challinor insists there is little to separate all four League Two play-off contenders.
County are the bookies’ favourites to go up as they prepare for their semi-final first leg at Salford City tonight.
But the Hatters boss believes the margins are very fine between his side, Salford, Carlisle United and Bradford City.
“Regardless of whatever happens, the four teams are really equally matched,” he said in a club interview.
“Both ties are really close, a toss of a coin in terms of who progresses.”
Fourth-placed Stockport come into the play-offs after just one defeat in 20 league games, having just missed out on automatic promotion on the final day.
On Stockport’s form he added: “There’s something to take from it in terms of what we’ve done in picking up results in a tough division.
“But they are individual games. I wouldn’t say form goes out of the window – I’d much rather be coming into the game on the back of the run we’ve had rather than defeats.
“Preparation is as normal but the magnitude of the game changes in terms of consequence.
“You have to embrace the situation we’re in.
“We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing and find a way to progress.”
Stockport have a number of former Carlisle United figures in their ranks, with Paddy Madden and Jack Stretton in the squad, with Clint Hill their assistant manager, Paul Simpson’s son Jake their head of performance and Matt Jansen in a player liaison role.
Kick-off at Salford’s Peninsula Stadium is 7.45pm and live on Sky.
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