Torquay in knockout mode as they target play-offs

Torquay United had led National League South in February before a drop in form that cost former manager Paul Wotton his job [Shutterstock]

Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball says his side are treating Saturday's crunch game against Tonbridge Angels as a knockout game.

The Gulls are fifth in National League South and travel to Kent to face the 14th-placed side in their final game of the regular season.

A win for the Gulls could see them finish as high as second, meaning direct entry to the play-off semi-finals.

But a loss could see them miss the play-offs and if results go against them, they could finish as low as ninth, two places outside the play-offs.

"It's a knockout game. Lose and I don't think we'll be in the play-offs, so it's a knockout, it's a final," Ball told BBC Sport.

"I said six weeks ago, we've got six finals to play, and I meant it.

"Luckily the one we lost wasn't fatal, we live to fight another day and that's all you can have," added Ball, whose side were beaten 2-1 at home by Hemel Hempstead Town last week.

Jimmy Ball has been in charge at Torquay United for five weeks [Shutterstock]

Ball says "a few truths" have been told to his players after their disappointing defeat last week.

A victory over Hemel would have guaranteed a play-off place and put the Gulls second, one point off leaders Worthing, who host sixth-placed Ebbsfleet Town on Saturday.