Guiseley boss Mark Bower could be without defender Danny Ellis as his team seek to return to winning ways at Oxford City before the play-offs begin.

The Lions, who had already secured a top-five finish after beating Chorley 2-1 at home last Saturday, lost 3-2 against North Ferriby United at Nethermoor on Tuesday.

Bower will now check on Ellis, midfielder Jake Lawlor and a number of other players heading into Saturday’s final-day trip to Oxford, which will determine where the Lions finish in Conference North.

Just one point separates fifth-placed Guiseley and Boston United in third ahead of the two-legged semi-finals which sees the fifth-placed team face the second-placed side and third play fourth next Wednesday and Saturday respectively.

The winners of the two ties will meet in a play-off final to decide who plays Conference football next season as Guiseley seek to avoid play-off heartbreak for a fifth successive year.

Lawlor was replaced at half-time against North Ferriby due to illness and, moments after Bower had made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, Ellis suffered a recurrence of a calf injury and was withdrawn.

That left Guiseley down to ten men for the remainder of the match and North Ferriby went on to snatch the points.

Bower said: “It’s obviously bad news on the Danny Ellis front but hopefully Jake is just getting over his illness and will be okay, but it’s the last thing you want in these games.

“It’s about striking the balance between going out there to win the game, which we obviously wanted to do, and making sure we are in the right physical shape for the play-off games.

“It’s a difficult one having this extra game in midweek when the other teams in the play-offs are sat with their feet up and preparing for the play-offs. We’ll see how everyone is fitness-wise and pick a team for Oxford from there.

“I’ve said before, I’m not going to be too clever in terms of trying to play a certain team in the play-offs – we’ll make the decision based on trying to get our best eleven out on the pitch.”

Bower chose to rest Gavin Rothery, with Ellis, Nicky Boshell, Jack Stockdill and Liam Dickinson in the starting line-up to gain some valuable game time.

Bower said: “I can’t fault the lads’ effort but ultimately being down to ten men cost us, especially with a few players lacking match practice.”

Lawlor, meanwhile, has been voted supporters player of the season and Bower added: “He has come on leaps and bound from when I took over and I think he can go on and play at a higher level.”