Oxford's final scheduled Conference game of the season takes place tomorrow at York City's KitKat Crescent. United are already certain of finishing second in the Conference, and will be travelling to Yorkshire in a relaxed mood, while for York the game is vital, as the fourth-placed team need at least a point to ensure their play-off place.[@opponent]York City[/@opponent] The Minstermen, like most of Oxford's opponents this season, are looking to record their highest home attendance of the season, although many Oxford supporters are wondering if they may have to make the same journey in a week's time, for the away leg of the play-off semi finals.[@connection]York City[/@connection] When the sides met in Oxford at the end of September, United ran out 2-0 winners, thanks to goals from Rob Duffy and Andy Burgess.[@report]272[/@report]

It will be interesting to see what side Jim Smith selects for this game. Will he try to determine what the best team is for the play offs, or will he rest some players while giving others an opportunity to impress? We're not going to make any predictions, with even Micky Corcoran selected last week after Smith had definitively ruled him out of taking any further part in the season. We suspect that Phil Gilchrist will not play, while Smith might be tempted to give Rufus Brevett another chance at left wingback. We'd be surprised if Yemi Odubade were to be in the starting eleven, and we anticipate seeing Ed Hutchinson having some involvement after he played 45 minutes for the reserves on Monday. Other than that, we've no idea.

York have had a patchy season, although have always been in or around the play-off positions. At one stage they looked likely to overtake United, but their recent form has seen them slip up, with two consecutive home defeats against Gravesend & Northfleet and Stevenage Borough at the end of March. They have turned that around, and have not been beaten in their last four games, including a 3-1 win over Rushden & Diamonds in their last home fixture. City are now four points behind Oxford, and two ahead of Exeter City and Burton Albion, and three points above Gravesend, but with a better goal difference than all of them. We will refrain from making a prediction on this game as there are too many variables, and we can't be bothered. We kind of hope that it's a 2-2 draw, provided that Exeter beat Southport 1-0. This would leave York and Exeter with identical points, identical goal difference, and identical goals scored. With both games between the clubs this season ending in draws, it would be interesting to see how the Conference would resolve this problem.

The other matches involving the play-off clubs tomorrow include, as stated, Exeter hosting already-relegated Southport. Morecambe, in third place, welcome Grays Athletic, who need at least a point to guarantee Conference survival, while Burton, who could still overtake Exeter and York, are at home to Rushden & Diamonds. Gravesend could also sneak into the play-off positions, should they win at Dagenham & Redbridge, who have already been crowned champions.

There are still a number of clubs fighting against relegation, although most at risk are Altrincham, who need to beat Aldershot to have any hope of staying up. Two points above Alty are five clubs hoping for a Shots victory. Stafford Rangers are the only ones with a worse goal difference than Altrincham, and so they need a win over Forest Green Rovers to guarantee survival. Cambridge United have a home game against relegated Tamworth, Halifax host Stevenage, who drew 0-0 at Northwich on Wednesday to knock themselves out of the play-off picture, and Crawley are at home to Kidderminster Harriers, knowing that a point will be enough to ensure survival and therefore overcome the ten-point deduction that they suffered at the start of the season.