GUISELEY will be hoping to maximise home advantage in their quest to avoid the drop from the Vanarama National League as they gear up for two games in four days at Nethermoor.

The Lions are still in the relegation places following last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Wrexham as they host mid-table Eastleigh on Saturday, with the re-arranged visit of Sutton United following on Valentine’s Day.

Adam Lockwood’s men last played on home soil on the first Saturday of the year, beating Maidstone United 2-1.

Since that January 7 clash, the Lions have exited two cup competitions and won at Macclesfield Town in the league before Saturday’s loss in Wales.

Ironically Guiseley’s scorer in the principality was Welsh under-21 international Jake Cassidy - his goal gave the Lions an 11th-minute lead.

The Lions had midfielder Kevan Hurst in their line-up at the Racecourse Ground, and he made an impressive debut.

Hurst was snapped up on loan from Mansfield Town until the end of the season as the Lions’ management duo of Lockwood and Dave Penny sought to add experience to their squad.

Hurst’s arrival followed that of Derek Asamoah from Carlisle United.

The Lions need old heads as they look to climb out of danger.

They are only two points from safety but only two points better off than basement outfit York City as seven points separate eight clubs from Torquay United to the Minstermen.

Martin Allen’s Eastleigh have drawn the most games of any club in the division, along with York, but the Spitfires have lost just eight games so far and only four clubs in the division have lost fewer, so they are a difficult side to beat.

Lockwood was unperturbed following last week’s defeat, saying: “Nothing has changed for us as a club and nothing has changed in the dressing room.

“It’s business as usual for us in what we do on a daily basis. The lads know that every time they come in for a training session or a game. We work hard and hopefully we’ll get enough points to achieve our goal.

“We have made changes to the squad by adding a few players with experience at this level and above and we won’t stand still. We will keep on trying to improve and taking the club forward.”

Following the suspected arson attack at the club recently, the two turnstiles close to the dressing room complex will be open as usual.

Some damage caused by the fire that that was spotted by a member of the public late at night and subsequently controlled by the fire brigade but the club thanked local tradespeople for their time and efforts, and the club’s volunteers, who also pitched in to ensure that the two home games could go ahead as scheduled.