Torquay United head into the Easter weekend of 2018 looking to turn around their National League survival hopes with a resurrection of biblicial proportions.
The Gulls head to Chester FC, who are level on 31 points with United, on Good Friday ten points adrift with eight games left and then face another 'six-pointer' on Easter Monday with Woking, who are seemingly in free-fall - having only won twice in their last 17 games.
Whilst the size of the task in hand may appear gargantuan - it is worth noting that after this stage of the season in the 2015-16 campaign the Gulls went and won four games from six (Gateshead, Chester FC, Altrincham and Bromley) the latter of which secured their survival with two games to spare.
In 2017-18, the immediate task facing United manager Gary Owers is to guide the Gulls to four wins from their next six, which are against Chester (A), Woking (H), Dover Athletic (A), AFC Fylde (H), FC Halifax Town (H) and Hartlepool United (A).
From that list - only Dover, who count former Gulls' defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco amongst their numbers, find themselves in the newly expanded play-off zone. Also Hartlepool - who were facing the threat of Administration until recently - have experienced a new lease of life since being taken over by a consortium headed by Teeside businessman and former Darlington chairman Raj Singh and Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling.
It is highly likely on current form that the Pools could be safe by the time United travel to Victoria Park in their penultimate fixture of the season.
With the Gulls' current points tally, achieving survival following the run of the aforementioned fixtures would seem unlikely - especially with the respective points totals of their rivals - so another two wins in their final two games against Guiseley and Ebbsfleet United - both at home - would also be required.
If United are going to stand a fighting chance scoring goals will be vital to the prospects of Owers' men. At least one of United's two current main strikers Elliott Romain (three) and Brett Williams (two) will have to overhaul the Gulls' current joint-leading scorer's Jamie Reid and Luke Young (five) if a 'great escape three' is to be completed.
Then there is the early Easter present delivered to Owers in the form of Rhys Healey, who was delivered not by the Easter Bunny but Cardiff City manager and former Gulls' caretaker boss Neil Warnock instead.
Healey has a proven pedigree of scoring goals in League Two during a loan spell with Newport County last season and was also believed to be a target for Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams in the 2016-17 campaign.
Don't bet against him making a small, but significant impact between now and the end of April.
