DAVID HODGSON knows all about the trials and tribulations of football management, and his experience helped to keep former teammate and Liverpool legend Ian Rush in the hot-seat of today's opponents Chester City.

Last month Rush came close to quitting his first managerial post after an alleged fall-out with chairman Stephen Vaughan. After a poor run of results, Vaughan claimed that he could not afford to sack the 43-year-old, while Rush denied that he was seeking a pay-off.

Hodgson can vouch that manager/chairman relationships are rarely a bed of roses, having walked out on Quakers following his well-documented spat with George Reynolds in 2000.

But since a telephone conversation with Hodgson and clear-the-air talks with Vaughan, Rush has vowed to carry on at the Deva Stadium after guiding Chester nine points above the League Two drop zone.

"I rang him up when I heard he was going to walk out and told him that he would be making a mistake," revealed Hodgson. "I know that Rushy wants to make it work at Chester and I hope he will.

"They were in trouble when he took over this season and he's done a good job in pulling them away.

"They're not technically safe and have a lot to play for so I'm sure they will give us a good game."

While Hodgson and Rush go back over 20 years to their Liverpool days - they were part of the European Cup winning squad in 1984 - the Quakers boss has little room for sentiment today.

"For 90 minutes I will not give a damn about Chester or Rushy," said Hodgson.

"What is important is that we take three points. If they went on to win all their remaining games I would be delighted for Rushy."

Quakers lie just one place below seventh-placed Northampton and hold a four-point cushion above Wycombe in ninth.

With six games remaining Hodgson believes Quakers can not afford to fall any further behind the top seven.

"We're only two points behind seventh so we're still in touch," said Hodgson. "I don't mind how we get there, as long as we make the play-offs. If we make it on the final day of the season then that's fine.

"We have to beat Chester because anything other than a victory would put enormous pressure on us in the remaining five games.

"We still need four wins, which would give us at least 73 points. That would be more than enough to see us finish in the top seven.

"We've lost once in our last five and if we continue that form on the run-in then we're going to be close."

Quakers took just one point over the Easter programme, losing at home to struggling Kidderminster, before squandering a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Bristol Rovers.

"Points dictate everything in football and there is no hiding from that fact," said Hodgson. "On the back of the performance against Kidderminster, I would have accepted a 6-0 defeat at Bristol, providing we played good football and worked very hard.

"We worked hard against Kidderminster, but we just didn't play to our strengths."

Ten-goal striker Clyde Wijnhard is available after serving a three-match ban and could replace Craig Russell, who scored his first goal of the season in Monday's draw.

"I'm in a real predicament," admitted Hodgson. "I was very pleased with Craig Russell and Craig Hignett at Bristol Rovers. They couldn't have done much more than they did.

"I'm torn over whether I disrupt that and go for a more natural out-and-out goalscorer.

"Clyde is the obvious contender to come back in and that is something I will address."

On-loan Huddersfield Town striker Akpo Sodje is also available after recovering from a minor knock.

Despite the return to fitness of Bobby Petta, Hodgson is expected to keep faith with Jason St'Juste on the left. The 19-year-old scored his second goal in three games at the Memorial Ground.

Petta is available after recovering from a hamstring injury. However, the form of St'Juste could see Petta rested for further week.

* Quakers have taken French goalkeeper Roger Queudrue - brother of Middlesbrough defender Franck - on trial.

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