Following their Easter Monday draw against Oxford United, Torquay United head into their final four games of the season in second place on 79 points.
The Gulls sit one point clear third place Shrewsbury Town and three ahead of Crawley Town, who have recently appointed Steve Coppell as Director of Football, in fourth.
Whilst Martin Ling's have enjoyed the benefits of stability in the centre of defence and midfield, Ling has only named four centre backs this season (Brian Saah, Mark Ellis, loan signing Angus MacDonald and the departed Chris Robertson) and five central midfielders (Lee Mansell, Eunan O'Kane, Damon Lathrope, Ian Morris and Chris McPhee).
However, he has used a different array of forwards and two of his current roster of strikers could yet play a vital role in helping Torquay secure a top three finish.
Kenyan striker Taiwo Atieno, who scored his fifth goal of the season against Oxford on Monday, has spent much of the season playing second fiddle to 14-goal leading scorer, Rene Howe.
Nevertheless, when he has been called upon to do so, Atieno has scored a number of crucial goals this season, including the one he scored against current League Two leaders, Swindon, on Boxing Day as well as his most recent effort at the Kassam Stadium.
Recent loan acquisition, Ryan Jarvis, has also made an impact since his temporary switch from Walsall at the beginning of March, having scored the winner in the Gulls' 2-1 win over Port Vale and providing the assist for Howe's winner against Accrington Stanley on Good Friday.
Jarvis also worked with Ling during his reign as Leyton Orient manager where he scored six goals in 14 games during a loan spell at the Matchroom Stadium in the 2006-07 season. He could yet have another telling contribution to make for Ling as the Gulls look to reach League One.
