ONLY four weeks ago, Nigel Worthington was celebrating securing York City's Football League status for another season.

But even the perpetually, pragmatic Bootham Crescent chief has now revealed that Easter Monday could be the time when his seventh-placed side's play-off prospects will be clearer.

Worthington insists he focusses on his team's fixtures only and, happily with five games still to play, the Minstermen's fate is in their own hands.

The fight for the final Sky Bet League Two play-off places, meanwhile, seems to have been narrowed to four teams - City, Southend, Oxford and Plymouth.

If the form book is to be trusted then, based on each of the quartet's previous five fixtures prior to today's programme of matches, Southend and City should comfortably secure their top-seven slots before they host Burton and travel to Scunthorpe on the last day of their respective regular campaigns.

Both clubs have collected 11 points from an unbeaten quintet of matches, whilst Oxford (three points) and Plymouth (seven points) have been far less impressive during the same period.

But a closer analysis of the remaining games reveals that Southend, on paper, have the most demanding schedule in a division where, arguably, all 24 sides still have something to play for.

The Shrimpers will face three automatic promotion hopefuls with trips to Rochdale and Fleetwood before their Roots Hall meeting with Burton.

Southend go into this weekend with the fewest injury concerns, however, with only defender Adam Thompson doubtful for their home clash against AFC Wimbledon.

A run of three straight wins have also given the Essex club some welcome momentum following a run of 13 matches without a win, stretching back to mid-January.

Oxford, meanwhile, are in freefall with new boss Gary Waddock suffering three straight defeats without scoring a goal since taking over as manager.

In fact, the U's have only won one of their last ten fixtures, including seven defeats, with further misery endured this week as a team, including seven players with first-team experience, were knocked out of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup on penalties by Hellenic League minnows Kidlington with the score deadlocked at 0-0 after extra-time.

Like Worthington, Oxford should also have a stronger idea of their top-seven hopes come Easter Monday with their next three matches incorporating trips to promotion rivals Plymouth and Scunthorpe either side of a Kassam Stadium showdown against the Minstermen on Good Friday.

Of the four play-off hopefuls, only Oxford have more away games still left to play with a final-day trip to old boss Chris Wilder's relegation-threatened Northampton team promising a dramatic conclusion.

Ninth-placed Plymouth look to have the most straight-forward fixture list with this afternoon's crunch game against Oxford followed by encounters against four teams outside of the top-ten places.

But the Pilgrims have lost three of their last five contests at Home Park, suggesting John Sheridan's men might be suffering from nerves in front of the division's biggest crowds outside of fallen giants Portsmouth.

Whatever twists and turns are to ensue during the next three weeks, this afternoon's visitors to Bootham Crescent will have played their part in the top-seven tussle.

James Beattie's Accrington Stanley also travel to Southend on Easter Monday and Oxford during the penultimate weekend of the season.

Any City fan, meanwhile, should avoid making arrangements for the following dates: Saturday, May 10 (League Two play-off semi-final. first leg 7th-placed team v 4th-placed team); Sunday, May 11 (semi-final first leg 6th v 5th); Friday, May 16 (semi-final second leg 4th v 7th); Saturday, May 17 (semi-final second leg 5th v 6th); Monday, May 26 (play-off final, Wembley).

SOUTHEND

Today - AFC Wimbledon (H)

Fri, Apr 18 - Rochdale (A)

Mon, Apr 21 - Accrington (H)

Sat, Apr 26 - Fleetwood (A)

Sat, May 3 - Burton (H)

Form: WWWDD

Injuries: Defender Adam Thompson (calf - one week).

YORK CITY

Today - Accrington (H)

Fri, Apr 18 - Oxford (A)

Mon, Apr 21 - Bury (H)

Sat, Apr 26 - Newport (H)

Sat, May 3 - Scunthorpe (A)

Form: DDWWW

Injuries: Defender Dan Parslow (cruciate - rest of the season); winger Josh Carson (cruciate - rest of the season); striker Wes Fletcher (medial ligament - rest of the season); left-back Ben Davies (knee - one week).

OXFORD UNITED

Today - Plymouth (A)

Fri, Apr 18 - York (H)

Mon, Apr 21 - Scunthorpe (A)

Sat, Apr 26 - Accrington (H)

Sat, May 3 - Northampton (A)

Form: LLLWL

Injuries: Midfielder Andy Whing (groin - one week); winger Alfie Potter (groin - one week); defender Johnny Mullins (metatarsal - three weeks).

PLYMOUTH

Today - Oxford (H)

Fri, Apr 18 - Bury (A)

Mon, Apr 21 - AFC Wimbledon (H)

Sat, Apr 26 - Hartlepool (H)

Sat, May 3 - Portsmouth (A)

Form: WLLDW

Injuries: Goalkeeper Luke McCormick (finger - three weeks); wing-back Matt Parsons (thigh - one week).