Since the introduction of the play-offs, not many teams have nothing to play for with a fifth of the season still to play.

Huddersfield fall into that category following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Southend.

They are just below halfway but rarely has the phrase mid-table mediocrity been more appropriate.

Conceding a last minute winner did little for Albion's play-off push against one of the teams they are chasing.

It did even less for Huddersfield's faint hopes of mounting a late dash themselves. They are ten points adrift of Walsall in the final play-off place and also ten clear of Gillingham, who occupy the fourth relegation spot.

That is probably just as well, given that Andy Ritchie's side have been on a downward spiral since giving Chelsea a run for their money last month in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. The Southend set-back was their fifth defeat out of six. Goalkeeper Matt Glennon is trying to put a brave face on Huddersfield's no-win situation.

"You can never say never and, until a top-six place is mathematically impossible, you keep clinging to that hope," he said.

"There have been some strange results in this division this season and all we can do is give 100 per cent and try to pick up three points in every remaining game we play.

"We should be much further up that table than we are but some sloppy defending and our failure to convert chances has cost us.

"Those are things we have to iron out and that process has to start now because if we don't go up this time we have to make sure it happens next season."

Glennon is not the only one looking ahead. Ritchie has 16 players out of contract in the summer so the former Albion striker faces a period of rebuilding. Midfielder Danny Schofield, sidelined on Saturday by injury, has already made clear his intention to leave and he is in talks with another club.

Ritchie said: "We wanted to give Danny as much time as possible to sort something, so we'll see what develops."

Frank Sinclair has opened negotiations over a new deal and Ritchie is keen to secure the future of another experienced centre- half, Rob Page.

The former Welsh international arrived on a free transfer from Coventry for the rest of the season in January, passing up the opportunity to stay in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday.

Ritchie said: "The mark of the man was shown when Wednesday came in. Rob lives in Sheffield and going to Hillsborough would have enabled him to keep playing in the Championship. But he had already told me he would join us and stuck to his word.

"I'd love to keep him here, because he has been fantastic both on and off the field.

"He's influential in the dressing room and, in some ways, it's like having a coach out on the field with the way he organises, talks and pulls players around the pitch.

"While I'm sure we might have to fight off some other clubs, I know Rob has really enjoyed himself here and that gives us one ace up our sleeve. We've had some early talks and, if we can come up with something that would be acceptabl