Play-off dates confirmed by the National League

If it all comes down the wire for Torquay United, the Gulls at least know when the biggest games will take place after the National League announced the key dates for play-off fixtures.

The top club in the National League South will earn automatic promotion to the National League Premier, leaving the next six clubs to battle it out in the play-offs for the second available slot.

As an aside, the National League is pushing hard through the 3UP Campaign to increase promotion from the Premier to the EFL League Two to three clubs, rather than the current two places allocated.

In the National League South, the clubs who finish second and third will automatically progress to the play-off semi-finals. In Eliminator A, the club finishing fifth will host the sixth-placed side on Tuesday, April 29. The next day, April 30, will see fourth at home to seventh in Eliminator B.

The first semi-final is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, when the club finishing second will be at home to the winner of Eliminator A. It is then the team in third hosting the winner of Eliminator B on Sunday, May 4.

The semi-final victors then progress to the final on the weekend of May 17 and 18. Promotion Finals in the Vanarama National League North and South will take place at the home ground of the finalist club who finished higher in the league table during the regular season.

Whatever happens, we are guaranteed a thrilling climax to the National League campaign.