This weekend's League Two permutations: Two could be promoted, Hartlepool face relegation

The first automatic promotion and relegation places have already been confirmed, but two more guaranteed places in League One next season are yet to be claimed.

A thrilling playoff battle is also nearing its conclusion with five teams separated by three points, while one more relegation spot looms for the dreaded drop out of the Football League.

Here, Sports Mole looks at all of the permutations ahead of this weekend's League Two fixtures.

THIS WEEKEND'S LEAGUE TWO PERMUTATIONS

Champions: Leyton Orient

Promoted: Leyton Orient

Guaranteed at least playoffs: Northampton Town, Stevenage

Relegated: Rochdale

WHAT COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND?

Northampton could be promoted

Stevenage could be promoted

Stockport County could secure a playoff spot

Carlisle United could secure a playoff spot

Hartlepool could be relegated

AUTOMATIC PROMOTION RACE

KEY FIXTURES

Northampton Town vs. Bradford City (Saturday, 3pm)

Stevenage vs. Grimsby Town (Saturday, 3pm)

NORTHAMPTON TOWN

After just two seasons out of the third tier, Northampton find themselves on the brink of returning to League One with a game to spare this weekend.

The equation is simple on paper, as victory over playoff-chasing Bradford would seal promotion. However, should the Bantams take something from that game, then things could become slightly more complicated due to their game in hand.

A draw would still be enough to seal promotion for Northampton if Stockport County and Carlisle both also drop points in their games, but defeat would mean that they have to wait until at least next week when Bradford play their game in hand to have their promotion rubber-stamped.

STEVENAGE

Stevenage are one point behind Northampton, but the fact that they do not play a fellow promotion contender this weekend means that they could even be promoted if they lose this weekend.

All Steve Evans's side need to do is match or better the results of Bradford, Stockport and Carlisle, meaning that defeat would still be enough providing all three of those teams lose too.

Matters could be made much more straightforward if Stevenage hold up their end of the bargain against mid-table Grimsby, though, with victory securing a return to the third tier for the first time since 2013-14 regardless of what happens elsewhere.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

KEY FIXTURES

Carlisle vs. Salford City (Saturday, 3pm)

Leyton Orient vs. Stockport (Saturday, 3pm)

CARLISLE UNITED

While Carlisle will not completely give up hope of automatic promotion until it is mathematically impossible, a much more likely route into League One next season looks to be through the playoffs at this stage.

None of the four teams currently occupying the playoff places are guaranteed to be involved yet, although it looks like being five teams fighting for those four places, so the positive is that only one of them will miss out.

Carlisle can ensure it will not be them as early as this weekend, as they face a Salford City side sitting only three points and one place below them in the table.

Victory in that game would guarantee their playoff place with a game to spare, while even a draw could be enough if either Bradford or Mansfield lose against Northampton and Harrogate respectively.

STOCKPORT COUNTY

Stockport sit in a similar position to that of Carlisle, level on points with only two games to go and only one goal keeping the Hatters above their playoff rivals as things stand.

Dave Challinor's side will no doubt be hoping that Leyton Orient have taken their eye off the ball now that they have been crowned champions, as a victory could be enough to clinch a playoff spot.

However, their fate is still somewhat in the hands of others as far as confirming at least a top-six finish this weekend is concerned, as victories for Salford, Bradford and Mansfield will take it to the final day.

Stockport only need to better the result of one of those three teams in order to be guaranteed at least a place in the playoffs.

RELEGATION BATTLE

KEY FIXTURES

Crawley Town vs. Walsall (Saturday, 3pm)

Hartlepool United vs. Barrow (Saturday, 3pm)

HARTLEPOOL UNITED

Last weekend's 2-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Crawley left Hartlepool hanging by a thread in League Two, and there is zero margin for error from hereon in.

John Askey's side must win both of their remaining games and hope that Crawley lose their last two to stand any chance of staying up, and even then they would need a swing in goal difference too.

That means that if Crawley avoid defeat at home to 17th-placed Walsall this weekend then Hartlepool will be relegated regardless of what they do against ninth-placed Barrow, while anything other than a win for Hartlepool would also see them drop out of the Football League again even if Crawley do lose.

LEAGUE TWO TABLE IN FULL

THIS WEEKEND'S LEAGUE TWO SCHEDULE IN FULL

Saturday, April 29

All kickoffs 3pm

AFC Wimbledon vs. Tranmere Rovers

Carlisle vs. Salford

Crawley vs. Walsall

Crewe Alexandra vs. Swindon Town

Doncaster Rovers vs. Colchester United

Gillingham vs. Newport County

Hartlepool vs. Barrow

Leyton Orient vs. Stockport

Mansfield vs. Harrogate Town

Northampton vs. Bradford

Rochdale vs. Sutton United

Stevenage vs. Grimsby