Truro City ever-present Les Afful is set to make his 39th Blue Square Bet South start in today's match at AFC Hornchurch.
The former Exeter City winger made his 38th consecutive appearance for Truro in Tuesday night's 3-1 home league defeat by promotion-chasing Eastleigh, whose win elevated them to fifth in the table and on course for the end-of-season play-offs.
Liverpool-born Afful – who joined Truro after being released by Gloucestershire's Forest Green Rovers in 2009 – is the only player in today's starting XI to have played in every league match for Lee Hodges' City side this season.
It is a testament to the affable 29-year-old's loyalty – especially this term – and his commitment to Hodges and the high-profile Cornish club, now destined to be relegated after two seasons in the Conference South division.
Hodges said: "It speaks volumes about what Les is like and it's all credit to him, and his fitness, that he is in the side week-in, week-out, especially the season we have had.
"To be quite honest I don't know how he does it but he does. He gets on with it quietly and lets his football do the talking."
Against star-studded Eastleigh – including former Torquay United central defender Chris Todd and ex-Gulls striker Chris Zebroski – Hodges went with the same starting XI who drew 2-2 with Basingstoke last Saturday, including fit-again ace Stewart Yetton.
Hodges said: "I saw no need to make changes because, apart from conceding a 94th-minute leveller, the side played well last Saturday.
"To be fair they did all right again on Tuesday. There were spells in the game – especially for about 20 minutes in the second half – when we were the side in control, on the attack and of course at the end Yettsy got his goal.
"They are one of my favourites for the play-offs and have been for a long time and needed to win to get into the top five. Hornchurch are at the other end of the table and they need to win for their own reasons."
Fourth-bottom Hornchurch start the day on 41 points, the same as Tonbridge Angels and four more than second- bottom Billericay.
However, both the Angels and Billericay have two games in hand on Hornchurch.
On the eve of today's game Hodges – who will have a late fitness test on his calf injury – said: "The boys trained really well last night and although we have a really early start, once they pull on the shirt they will be ready to have another go."
