THIS could be a pivotal weekend in what has been a thrilling title race.

Eastbourne Borough and Lewes have been slugging it out for the crown since last August.

The battle has gripped the imagination of Sussex football fans to the extent that Borough and Lewes each boast a higher league average attendance this season than Crawley.

As the season reaches its climax Lewes are a point clear of their rivals with a game in hand.

Both face crucial games this weekend with the Rooks entertaining third-placed Eastleigh while Borough travel to Thurrock, who have an excellent home record.

The big question is who will be champions. Let's try to help: THE STORY SO FAR When Lewes won 2-0 at Borough on New Year's Day it looked like they had stolen a march in the title race but Borough clawed back a nine-point deficit to move into top spot. Lewes fought back to the summit but then a crippling injury list took its toll as they collected one point out of nine and suddenly Borough looked like favourites. Garry Wilson's men then hit sticky form, taking one point from the last nine as well as encountering injury problems of their own.

THE RUN-IN Borough have five games left including three against play-off chasing sides - Bath at home a week on Saturday, then Newport and Braintree away in their final two games of the season. Four of Borough's remaining five games are away from home, including Thurrock tomorrow and Weston-super-Mare on Monday.

Lewes have six games left and also face three play-off hopefuls - Eastleigh and Fisher at home then Hampton and Richmond in their penultimate game of the season. Their other three games are seemingly easier including home matches with two of the bottom four. Four of the Rooks' remaining games are at home.

Fixtures - Borough: Thurrock away (April 5), Weston away (April 7), Bath home (Apr 12), Newport away (April 19), Braintree away (April 26).

Lewes: Eastleigh home (April 5), Basingstoke away (April 12), Fisher home (April 16), Dorchester home (Apr 19), Hampton and Richmond away (April 22), Weston home (April 26).

THE KEY GAMES Possibly this weekend. If Lewes beat Eastleigh and Borough lose to Thurrock the advantage will certainly be with Steven King's men. If results go the other way, Borough will be back on top and it is wide open again. Other crucial games include Borough's trip to Newport County and Lewes' visit to Hampton and Richmond.

THE KEY PLAYERS Fabio Capello may not put too much emphasis on who is England captain but for Lewes and Borough their skippers are vital players. Paul Armstrong (Borough) and Steve Robinson (Lewes) have been in excellent form and are key components in the success of each club this season.

Borough will be without top scorer Andy Atkin for three of their five remaining games due to suspension which means other players will have to come to the fore in front of goal. Rooks' top scorer Paul Booth has been firing blanks recently with just two goals in his last nine appearances and Lewes will need him to start finding the net again in the remaining games.

THE MANAGERS Both Garry Wilson and Steven King have played down their title chances. Rightly or wrongly? Rightly on two fronts, firstly because it helps take pressure off players and secondly because the advantage has swung so much it would be wrong to build up expectation among fans.

THE FANS Support has been great for both clubs. Borough are averaging 859 for home games and Lewes 754. There could be more twists and turns to come so those fans will have to stay behind their teams.

INJURIES Borough have run into problems with Scott Ramsay out for the season with a broken ankle sustained in last week's 2-2 draw with Weston when Marc Pullan, Allan Tait and Matt Smart also suffered worrying injuries. Lewes are without Tom Davis for the remainder of the season and Simon Wormull's ankle also remains a concern but otherwise their injuries are clearing up.

OTHER CONTENDERS No other team can realistically catch the top two but the battle for play-off places is fierce. The number of clubs in with a serious shout of a top-five finish stretches down to Havant and Waterlooville in 11th spot. That may not help Borough and Lewes who between them face six of those teams in the run-in.

THE PLAY-OFFS It will be cruel for whoever misses out because they both deserve to be promoted but the club finishing second has been promoted via play-offs for the last two seasons. However, statistics suggest the sides in the best form going into the play-offs often emerge triumphant and the side top of the form league at the moment is Braintree, who Borough face in the last game of the season.

WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING AT 5pm on APRIL 26 The twists and turns of this title race have made it impossible to predict and it would be no surprise if there are more to come. At the moment, though, Lewes are in the driving seat with a one-point advantage, a game in hand and a slightly easier run-in. Is that enough for you to stake your mortgate on the outcome? Don't be silly.

Who do you think will win the title?