CHRIS Todd has been around the game long enough to know that anything can happen in football.

And it will be that thought spurring on his Eastleigh side on Saturday as they bid to pull off ‘Mission Impossible’ at Woking (5.30pm).

On the face of it, the Spitfires’ National League play-off dream ended last weekend when James Norwood’s 87th-minute winner condemned them to a devastating 1-0 home defeat by promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers.

It means nothing less than a win will do against the Cards on Saturday, but victory alone will not be enough.

Eastleigh must also hope that Braintree – three points clear in fifth spot – stumble at home to relegation-haunted Altrincham and that Tranmere, who are level with them on 75 points, do not beat Grimsby at Prenton Park.

Should it whittle down to goal difference, the Spitfires' is currently the worst of the trio – three inferior to Braintree and four shy of Tranmere.

“The odds are stacked against us, but odds are there to be broken.

"Anything can happen in football and we’re going to give it everything we've got and see what plays out,” said a defiant Todd.

“We’re all disappointed that we didn’t get what we probably deserved against Tranmere – at least a draw – but nothing has changed in that we go to Woking needing to win.

“We'll give it a real good go and hope for the best.”

Yet again Eastleigh make the short trip to The Laithwaite Community Stadium with several key players missing.

Top scorer James Constable is recovering from an appendix operation and both Andy Drury and rising star Luke Coulson limped out of the Tranmere game – the latter lasting just 18 minutes.

“It’s not an excuse, but we've had a lot of bad luck injury-wise,” said Todd.

“Beano (Constable) has been a big loss, Dukes (Drury) has had a problem for a few weeks, and it’s got worse and worse, and Luke's been struggling with his ankle ever since that tackle (against Guiseley).

“We’ve still got quality in depth and we’ll give it absolutely everything, but losing three of your star players doesn’t help."

One positive is the return of striker Ross Lafayette, back from loan at Aldershot.

“Ross has been back training this week and he's looking very lively,” said Todd.

“He wanted to go and play some games and to have him back now is a good thing.”

Lafayette could well start alongside Matt Tubbs, who has scored just once – a penalty against Chester – since joining the Spitfires on loan from Portsmouth in early February.

Tomorrow could potentially be the 31-year-old’s last game in an Eastleigh shirt.

“Tubbsy’s a big game player and hopefully he’ll prove that on Saturday,” said Todd.

Meanwhile Forest Green Rovers, beaten to the National League title by neighbours Cheltenham, have sacked manager Ady Pennock just days before the play-offs.

The 45-year-old had been in charge since replacing ex-Saint Dave Hockaday in 2013.

Todd, a former FGR player, said: “It does seem strange with two or three games to go, but I know the chairman Dale Vince and he’ll do what he believes is right for the club.

"Who knows what goes on behind closed doors?”

FGR's academy manager and former first-team captain Scott Bartlett has stepped in as caretaker manager. Bartlett was a stalwart of Eastleigh's old rivals Salisbury City.