SEVEN points from the remaining seven games could be enough to keep Dunbar United safe, according to manager Kevin Haynes.
At least four teams will be relegated from the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League in just over a month’s time.
Dunbar sit on 33 points and in the middle of a relegation battle which looks set to go down to the wire.
Haynes, whose team picked up a “much-needed” three points in their last league encounter with title-chasing Linlithgow Rose, said: “I think 40 points would be enough to keep us up.
“We have got a massive game against Blackburn United at home, as is Dundonald Bluebell at home and Tynecastle away.
“These are teams around about us.
“They almost feel like six-pointers – if we stop them earning any points and we are taking the points.
“It will be massive but they are all massive games for us.”
The Seasiders sit 12th in the 18-team table, just two points above Blackburn United, who sit in the fourth relegation spot.
However, five teams could be relegated from the Premier Division depending on the outcome of who moves up to the Scottish Lowland Football League.
While Penicuik Athletic, Linlithgow Rose and Tranent Juniors battle it out for the Premier Division title, only a handful of clubs can realistically think they are safe from relegation but out of the title race.
Sauchie Juniors sit eighth in the table but just six points clear of Dunbar and eight clear of Blackburn.
Haynes said: “I think it is very tight, even right up to eighth position.
“Inverkeithing are not entirely safe.
“A lot of people can get dragged into it.
“It is probably going to be in the next week or two that we are going to lose teams to relegation.
“I think Camelon [second bottom] play Whitehill Welfare [bottom] on Saturday and one of them might not be too far away from being mathematically relegated.
“It has made for a good league.
“No one is safe really outwith the top seven.
“Anybody can beat anybody, as I have said before lots of times.
“You can easily win three games in a row but easily lose three in a row, as we experienced at the turn of the year, and it really drops you in it.
“Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale beat us at the turn of the year and it propelled them up to ninth.
“They have lost two since then and they are back into the bottom six.”
Now, Haynes is calling on his team to provide consistency over the closing weeks of the campaign.
Seven points would move the New Countess Park side on to 40 points, with attention back on the league.
Saturday’s draw with Whitehill Welfare brought to an end Dunbar’s chances of progressing in the League Cup.
The Dunbar boss stressed he did not like to lose but was happy to only have the league to concentrate on, although they are still to face Ormiston in the final game of League Cup Group H.
He said: “I don’t like getting beat but if there is any consolation it means we can focus on the league.”
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