Wily Gainsborough Trinity boss Steve Housham is plotting to sneak in under the radar and win the race for promotion.

While leaders Hyde are blazing a trail in Blue Square Bet North with 61 points, the race just behind them is tight with three teams level on 49 and the Blues currently on 48.

Housham believes that with all eyes on Hyde and Stalybridge at the top, it could allow his Gainsborough side to come up unseen on the rails and not only sneak into the play-offs, but possibly win the title.

"When we played Hyde – and beat them – we were 21 points behind them," said Housham.

"Now we are just 13 points away with two games in hand on them. Anything is possible.

"Not many people are talking about Gainsborough Trinity, they are talking about Hyde or Stalybridge.

"And as far as I am concerned that's brilliant. It means we can sneak in under the radar and surprise a few people.

"We have 15 games remaining this season, seven of which are at home.

"If we win half of those, I believe we will be up there at the end of the season.

"But we are not aiming to win half of our remaining matches. We will be going out to win all of our games.

"We always go out to win matches and that is not going to change."

Housham was disappointed following the postponement of last Saturday's trip to Worcester, but while any match action was ruled out, he did however get the squad in for training.

"We were in anyway," he said. "We worked together in the gym. We told the players how important it was to keep themselves in shape and, to be fair, they all tend to do a lot of work on their own anyway.

"The difficulty in situations like this is finding locations to train. Obviously the Northolme is out of bounds.

"We had hoped to play a training game at Bottesford on Monday night, but they were hit just as hard as we were by the weather, so it was impossible.

"We are still planning to come in and do something three nights of the week, but obviously, it will be difficult to do something out doors.

"Looking at the forecast for this week it might be difficult to find a pitch suitable."

If Saturday's visit to Gloucester goes ahead, it gives Housham and his squad the opportunity to earn some pay-back after the Tigers inflicted a 4-1 home defeat on the Blues in November.

It was the first home defeat of the season for Housham's men and one that left a bad taste in the mouth of the manager.

"It was a shock result for us when they beat us at home," said Housham.

"It was an easy result for them looking at the scoreline.

"I sometimes look at past results and ask myself why? With this result, I think we scored too early and then took our foot off the pedal.

"Then our defending from set-pieces was very poor and they scored three easy goals.

"They will see a different side on Saturday. We will be going out to win the game and get a little pay-back for when they beat us at our place."

Another week of inactivity has brought one positive for Housham, with his two senior goalkeepers Andrew Pettinger and Phil Barnes both approaching full fitness.

Housham has put in a seven-day approach for another striker, thought to be former Scunthorpe player Jordan Thewlis. Housham is hoping to speak to the player, currently at Corby, after the weekend.