THIS weekend sees the final round of games in the busy Christmas calendar with the Grays versus Thurrock clash undoubtedly the pick of the bunch.

Colin McBride's men travel to Bridge Avenue on new year's day hoping to exact revenge on Grays who ran out comfortable winners in the boxing day clash at Ship Lane, but know they will have their work cut out.

Grays have lost just three times all season and their brand of attacking, free-flowing football has had critics reaching for the superlatives.

And boss, Mark Stimson, knows that two wins in their next two games, against Thurrock and Basingstoke, could put Grays in an almost unassailable position at the top of the Conference South table.

Fresh from their derby victory against Aveley on Monday, East Thurrock United will be hoping to bag six more points this weekend in a last-ditch attempt to get their promotion ambitions back on track.

After trailing at the interval against their borough opponents, Rocks manager Lee Patterson's is hoping his side's ultimate victory will prove to be the turning point in their season.

Said Patterson: "I got the players in at half-time and told them that they needed to up their game against our local rivals. The team showed their true colours, we are all in it together and hopefully this is a turning point for us."

On Saturday Patterson and his men will make the journey down to Sittingbourne, before entertaining Wivenhoe Town on bank holiday Monday.

Nine points over Christmas would certainly go a long way to pushing East Thurrock back up to lofty heights in the Southern League Division One East, which they occupied in the early stages of the season.

In a quirky twist of fate which only football can throw up, lowly Tilbury will face exactly the same opponents over the weekend, with the Dockers travelling up to Wivenhoe on Saturday before hosting Sittingbourne on Monday.

The new management team of Gary Kimble and Neil Speight will be hoping to pick up the first points of their tenure and begin an improbable climb to safety. And the pair know the home game against Sittingbourne is one they really need to pick up points from if they are to drag the team out of the mire they have inherited.

Finally, the borough's fifth team, Aveley, who were cruelly defeated by East Thurrock last time out, welcome Chatham Town to Millfield on new year's day knowing a win over their mid-table rivals could see them climb a number of places in that particularly congested area of the league.

Then on Monday they travel to the struggling Great Wakering Rovers, who they comfortably beat 3-0 in August. A similar result this time out and boss Amin Levitt will be pleased.

*Grays have been drawn away against Conference leaders Barnet in the League Cup. The game, which will pit top of the Conference versus top of the Conference South, will give Mark Stimson the perfect chance to gauge his side's progress. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, February 1 at 7.45pm.

FIXTURES:

Saturday January 1 Conference South Grays Athletic v Thurrock

Southern League Division One East Aveley v Chatham Town Sittingbourne v East Thurrock United Wivenhoe Town v Tilbury

Monday January 3 Southern League Division One East East Thurrock United v Wivenhoe Town Great Wakering Rovers v Aveley (1pm) Tilbury v Sittingbourne All kick-offs 3pm unless stated.)