Walsall vs Accrington preview: Saddlers enter 'two game shoot-out' in promotion race

Walsall dropped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since September 7, after registering back-to-back draws against Harrogate Town and Newport County respectively. 

Those successive stalemates over the Easter weekend extended their winless run to 12 games in League Two, with Walsall picking up just two wins from their last 19 overall. 

But Jellis insists everyone must draw a line under their recent struggles and view the final two games as a prime opportunity to achieve their end goal of promotion to League One.

"No one wants the success more than the players and it's hard to be in this position because everyone wants it so much," the midfielder said.

"Everyone in and around the club and the fans. We want to do it for them and for us so it's a massive opportunity now to draw a line under what has happened over the last three or four weeks. 

"Now we look to a two-game shoot-out. There are other games being played elsewhere that could help us massively. 

"It's all in our hands. We go and win on Saturday, which we're aiming to, then we see where the other results lie and we go from there." 

All eyes will be on the early kick-offs in League Two, with third-place Bradford City travelling to leaders Doncaster Rovers and AFC Wimbledon, in fifth spot, hosting second-place Port Vale. 

If Bradford and Port Vale lose, then victory for Walsall would see them climb as high as second spot. In contrast, if Bradford and Port Vale win, then Walsall will be left four points adrift of the top three before a ball is even kicked at Bescot.

Walsall have had ample opportunities to seize the initiative and reassert their authority in the promotion race but have thus far failed to do so. 

But in terms of events elsewhere, Jellis and the players won't be thinking about anything which is not within their control.

"We won't look at that [the scores in the early kick-off]," Jellis vowed.

"We'll be in the changing rooms focusing on us and we go out into the game forgetting elsewhere. 

"Then we come back in after 5 o'clock. By then, hopefully we've put three points on the board then we can start to look elsewhere. 

"But until the final whistle is here, we're focused on us, locked into getting the three points and hopefully beating Accrington on Saturday."

Priestley Farquharson (thigh) and Josh Gordon (hamstring) will be available for selection after featuring in the open training session at Bescot on Thursday. 

Jack Earing (ankle) also participated but has not been cleared fit ahead of the weekend. 

"Jack isn't ready yet. He has got a little bit more work to do before he will be match fit. 

"He is only just looking back to himself so he's not available for selection yet."