Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley wants his players to “embrace and enjoy” a potentially-historic run-in that could see Iron reach the promised land of the Football League.

Ahead of a long trip to in-form Macclesfield today, Braintree – with seven regular league games remaining – are outside the National League Premier play-off positions on goal difference, but could move as high as fourth should results go their way.

The north Essex part-timers go into the game at Moss Rose on the back of a disappointing 2-1 reverse at Aldershot on Easter Monday, a result which ended a run of eight games without defeat.

Cowley is desperate for a positive response today, despite a virus sweeping through the camp, and a victory would see Town do the double over the former League One side, having defeated them 1-0 in October.

“We are never going to have this time again as a group, so we have got to embrace and enjoy it,” said Cowley.

“For us, if we get the process right, then the result usually takes care of itself, and that is the only thing we can control.

“We have had a tough couple of weeks in terms of injury and there has been a virus within the group and while we are not quite where we would have liked to be in that respect, it is what it is and other teams will be suffering similar problems.

“I am sure whoever is available will give it their all.”

Elsewhere at the top of the table, fifth-placed Dover and fourth-top Tranmere host relegation-threatened duo, Halifax and Welling, while Grimsby, in third, visited leaders Cheltenham last night.

It’s a big day for a number of other Essex clubs, in Ryman North.

Brightlingsea Regent, beaten 1-0 at home by lowly Wroxham on Easter Monday, face a crunch battle at play-off rivals AFC Hornchurch.

Only goal difference separates fifth-placed Hornchurch from seventh-placed Brightlingsea, although James Webster’s men have played a game more, so nothing short of a win will do.

Elsewhere, Heybridge Swifts and Witham Town, who need points to keep clear of the relegation zone, host Haringey Borough and travel to Romford respectively. The Swifts are three points clear of the bottom three, and Witham four points. Maldon & Tiptree travel to Soham.