Ollie Westbury comment: Shrewsbury Town heading into last-chance saloon

There are must-win games, and then there are must-win games. If Shrewsbury lose to Peterborough United on Saturday, one of three teams just above the relegation places, they will trail Darren Ferguson's team by 10 points. 

And with just 12 games remaining after this one, Salop will need a miracle to make up that deficit in their remaining clashes. 

There is no doubt they have improved since Gareth Ainsworth took over in Shropshire - despite losing their last three League One fixtures. In the last 10 third-tier games, they sit 19th in the form table. 

The problem is, he had such a mountain to climb when he arrived, as Salop had only taken eight points from their first 15 league matches back in November. 

Now they have three huge clashes, starting against Posh on Saturday at the Weston Homes Stadium, before another away fixture against Exeter a week later. 

Sandwiched in between those away trips is a game against Bristol Rovers at the Croud Meadow, and Town can ill-afford to slip up. It is fair to say if this short period of matches does not go to plan, then any slim chances of survival will evaporate. 

While it is mathematically possible, Ainsworth will never give up, well, at least with the way he carries himself during press conferences and on the touchline. 

On the inside, he might be thinking a completely different thing, but he will say that with 39 points still available, his side will continue to battle to get above the line by May 3. 

After this trio of matches, they have another vital one on home turf as there is another relegation six-pointer as Burton make the trip to Shropshire. 

Salop lost the reverse fixture at the Pirelli Stadium earlier in the campaign. That was while the search for Paul Hurst's successor was underway. 

Shrewsbury will, hopefully, have Taylor Perry coming back into their ranks this weekend. He was in great form before he picked up an injury in the defeat to Bolton, and his forward runs that stretch the opposition's defence have been missed while he has been absent. 

Both Shrewsbury and Stevenage looked tired at the end of a busy week last time out. So Shrewsbury will be relieved to have had a week on the training pitch to work on a few things. 

Offering more of a threat going forward has to be at the top of Ainsworth's agenda - that was one of the issues his side faced when Alex Revell's side came to Shropshire last weekend. 

They will also need to show a little bit more composure when they do get into the final third if they want to unlock stubborn defences. 

This time next week, Town fans will have a good idea of which direction their side is likely to go in. If they get some positive results, then the survival race will well and truly be back on.