When Daggers' management looked at their run-in three or four games ago, Saturday's visit to Chesterfield would have seemed the sternest test left, as the Spireites were the only opponents in serious play-off contention that Daggers had to play in their closing games.
Well, the Derbyshire side's form has been far from impressive in the last half-dozen gameswitha 2-0 win over champions elect Rochdale being their only success since the first week in March.
That has persuaded Chesterfield boss John Sheridan to admit that automatic promotion is now almost beyond his inconsistent side, as they now trail third-placed Bournemouth by seven points and to leave him anxiously looking over his shoulder at the clubs queuing up behind his side for a play-off spot.
The Derbyside side have lost four of their last seven games, including a 3-1 reverse at Barnet on Easter Monday that had the former Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Republic of Ireland international midfielder raging at his slack defence, when they conceded three late first-half goals at Underhill.
The Spireites' home form - that Rochdale victory aside - and that game was won by two penalties - has been poor in recent weeks, so Daggers should take heart.
A 1-0 home defeat to fellow Midlanders Notts County was hardly surprising considering promotion-seeking Notts' current form, but that was followed by a humiliating 5-0 home loss to another side in black and white stripes in Port Vale, who with Monday's win over Daggers, have now propelled themselves firmly into the play-off picture.
A third Chesterfield home loss in March, a less than impressive 2-1 reverse to struggling Hereford, made the Rochdale success all the more necessary.
Chesterfield were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion. Without the hype and clamour that surrounded Notts County, Sven Goran Eriksson and all, the Spireities quietly planned their own promotion push.
Taken over by former Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dave Allen, he installed former Owls favourite Sheridan as new boss, succeeding ex-Blackburn, Watford and Aberdeen midfield man Lee Richardson, who twice took the Spirerites to the fringe of the play-offs in successive seasons, but missed out on both occasions!
Manchester-born Sheridan had done well in his first managerial post at Oldham Athletic, a post he left towards the end of last season.
He inherited a vastly experienced side and has added to it. Former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United striker Jack Lester has been leading the Chesterfield line in the past two seasons, but is just returning after injury.
That has left much on the shoulders of Barry Conlon, a widely travelled frontman, last with Bradford City before joining Chesterfield. He has four goals in the last six games, but that includes a couple of penalties.
Since the turn of the year, Sheridan has brought in midfielder Ismael Demontagne, on loan from Blackpool and former Coventry full-back Andrew Whing.
He has also taken on former Preston winger Simon Whaley until the end of the season. Whaley, given a free by Division l leaders Norwich after failing to settle in Norfolk, has had impressive loan spells with Rochdale and Bradford already this season, but has been injured since shortly after joining Chesterfield.
Saturday's visit to the homely, antiquated Saltergate will be Daggers' last visit to the venue.
Chesterfield are to move to the impressive b2net stadium, that has been two years in construction, across the town with the Crooked Spire, in time for next season.
John Still he feels Daggers need to win four of their last six games, three of which are at home against Barnet, Burton and Hereford.
He will be without skipper Mark Arber (ankle) for the trip to Derbyshire, but Scott Doe who has done light training towards the end of the week after sustaining a back injury in the home win over Accrington, has an outside chance. Doe is likely to have a fitness test just before the game on Saturday.
Still says he knows who he wants to partner Peter Gain in central midfield if injuries clear up, now Marlon Pack's three month loan from Portsmouth is over. Our money is on the versatile French recruit Romain Vincelot, who has done so well in central defender position in the past two games.
Likely teams:-
Chesterfield: Lee, Whing, Breckin, Austin, Picken; Demontagne, Boshell, Niven, Rundle; Conlon, Small.
D & Redbridge: Roberts, Ogogo, Uddin, Vincelot, McCrory; Green, Bingham, Gain, Nurse; Benson, Scott.
Referee: Russell Booth (Notts).
