PAUL Mullin is set to equal Accrington Stanley's record number of appearances on Easter Monday - but any celebrations will be put on hold until the Reds guarantee their League Two survival.
The striker has 359 appearances so far with 171 goals - a superb return of almost one goal every two games according to the club's official statistics.
And when he runs out onto the pitch at Hartlepool on Monday, he will have chalked up 161 appearances in a Reds' shirt equalling Chris Grimshaw's record.
But there will be no time to dwell on it for the 33-year-old as, with six games left, this season is all about avoiding the dreaded drop.
The Reds face Peterborough at home tomorrow before the game at the table toppers on Monday with points vital as Stanley - currently just two points off the drop zone - look to prevent an instant return to the Conference.
"To be honest, it doesn't mean an awful lot at the moment because of the situation we are in," admitted Mullin, who signed from Radcliffe Borough in 2000.
"But, at the end of the season - once we have hopefully stayed up - I will look back and think how nice it is.
"I will be happy, especially as I used to play alongside Chris Grimshaw. But there are just too many things going on at the moment and I would gladly swap any record for two wins - and perhaps me scoring the winner at Hartlepool! - in our next two games.
"Neither game will be easy but we have got to win our home matches. It is a big weekend."
Boss John Coleman used to joke that he had a picture of long servant Mullin up on his wall.
"I might put it back up if he scores the winner tomorrow!" said the Reds chief. "He has scored a lot of important goals though and hopefully there are more to come."
And he paid tribute to his hitman who has stepped up from the UniBond Premier Division with the Reds and been an outstanding striker throughout that time, hardly missing a game.
Coleman said "Paul is a great player and has a couple of years left yet. He has become stronger with full time training and, if I am honest, I would like him to be more aggressive and nastier but perhaps it would take away another part of his game as his level-headeness keeps him calm under pressure.
"He is very durable and has a great demeanour about him and he is a shining example for the young lads.
"They can get a bit blase if they have been at professional clubs all their lives but Paul has had to do it the hard way and, now he is full-time, he works even harder."
Captain Peter Cavanagh has played alongside Mullin for six years and admitted: "I am a big fan of Paul's and he is one of the nicest men you will ever meet. He is someone I want to keep in touch with.
"He has always made new players welcome at the club - and there have been a lot of them! - and he is still coming up with the goods and is probably fitter than ever.
"His goal ratio of one every two games is amazing and he has been a great servant to Accrington.
"He has seen off plenty of strikers too - it was a case of play with Mullers or do not play - and he deserves the record."
But the full focus is on tomorrow's (Sat) clash with Peterborough who, managed by Darren Ferguson, still harbour big hopes of making the play-offs. They are just four points off the seventh place side and have familiar names among their ranks to the Stanley faithful as they have spent a substantial amount of money on Conference players.
Ex-Dagenham striker Craig Mackail-Smith cost Posh around £125,000, one-time Stanley target Aaron McLean was £150,000 - but is out for the season after knee surgery - and former Stevenage winger George Boyd was sold to the London Road outfit for a Conference record of £260,000
"We know a lot about them from our Conference days and they will know a lot about us," said Coleman, who will also welcome back goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble who is now the coach at Posh after leaving the Reds to join Coventry this season.
"They have spent quite a bit of money on Conference players and raised the bar as regards transfer fees.
"I wish they had done it before we sold Gary Roberts and Ian Craney as we might have got a few more bob for them.
"But is should be a good game. We are trying to get the three points for safety and they are trying to get the three points for the play-offs so both sides will be trying to win the game - and it should be entertaining to watch."
He added: "They are playing with confidence but in our last three games - despite losing at Walsall on Saturday - we have played well."
Stanley's 3-2 defeat to the promotion-chasing Saddlers on Saturday was disappointing after a good performance.
Coleman continued: "Walsall was frustrating because we didn't feel they should have got a penalty and the cheap penalties against us must be into double figures now. Hopefully we will have a bit of luck going our way in the last six games.
"It is still in our hands. We know our last three home games could shape our destiny but we have won our last two matches at the FES and it is important we win tomorrow."
Stanley face a tough ask on Monday in trying to beat league leaders Hartlepool who are on a 23 game unbeaten run - which started when they overcame the Reds 2-1 at the FES in November.
"They started it with us so it is not inconceivable that we should end it," added Coleman.
Leam Richardson is suspended tomorrow (Sat) while David Brown is banned for the next two games. But midfielder Jay Harris is back while keeper Ian Dunbavin is battling for a starting place and striker Leighton McGivern is on his way back. However it does look bleak for defender Andy Tretton who has seen a specialist and is facing the prospect of his career ending due to his knee injury.
