IT is impossible to downplay its importance, so John Thompson does not even make an attempt to.

The Notts County skipper knows tonight's League Two game at second-placed Bournemouth is saturated in significance, and everybody else does too.

The Magpies are already in an incredibly strong position in the promotion race in the basement division, after winning their last four games – against Burton Albion, Dagenham, Barnet and Grimsby.

They are fourth in the table, and, based on their current formidable form, poised to soon rise once again into the top-three.

Victory at Dean Court would not be enough for Notts to move into the one of the prized automatic promotion places, even if third-placed Bury lose to Macclesfield at Gigg Lane. The Shakers are five points above them.

But it would close the gap on Bournemouth to only four points and the Magpies would still have four games in-hand on them.

It would also inflict a strong psychological blow to the midriff of one of their biggest rivals.

Thompson is unsurprisingly confident Notts can beat the Cherries, not only because of the fact they in such superb form, having scored ten goals and kept three clean-sheets in their last four wins, but also because they have done it already this season.

They beat them at the beginning of their impressive run in the FA Cup, winning 2-1 at Dean Court in the second round at the end of November, in one of Hans Backe's nine games in charge at Meadow Lane.

After falling behind to a first half strike from Brett Pitman, leading scorer Lee Hughes and Craig Westcarr both struck in the second half.

Notts are also unbeaten in six away games since then.

"It's a long trip but we've done it already this season and got a good result, so we'll be hoping to do the same again," said Thompson.

"We're looking forward to it, it will be a good game.

"Games against teams around us are more significant. We definitely don't want to drop points to any of our rivals, but we won't be going there for a draw. We're going for a win.

"We've proved already we can beat them. I'm sure we'll do it again.

"Confidence could not be higher in the dressing room. The lads are a great group."

While the Magpies have found a formidable consistency under caretaker manager Dave Kevan, many of their promotion rivals have faltered.

"We're closing in on them. All we can do is try to keep winning every game we play," added Thompson.

"We know those teams are going to drop points so we have to try to capitalise when they slip up.

"Saying that, we're not looking at anybody else. We're just going to keep focused on our own games and take care of ourselves.

"Hopefully we'll be in the top-three as soon as possible and go from there."

The fitness of the Magpies will be key at Bournemouth, after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Grimsby on Saturday that was decided by a 69th minute strike from Hughes.

They have only had three days to recover and Kevan's options are severely limited if he chooses to rotate players and freshen the side up.

They have got a squad of only 19 and cannot sign any new players because they are still under a Football League transfer embargo.

Graeme Lee could come into the side in the heart of the defence but Kevan will surely be reluctant to alter a back-four that has kept four successive clean-sheets, the first time Notts have done that in almost two years.

Matt Hamshaw could replace Craig Westcarr perhaps, and Luke Rodgers might come into contention too. Again, however, Hughes is an absolute certainty to start, after scoring 13 of his 22 goals in the last 13 games.

"Games like the one at Grimsby do take a lot out of you because it was a heavy pitch and it was hard-fought every step of the way," said Thompson.

"It is tiring but when you win close games like that you get a great sense of enjoyment afterwards, and when you're winning like we are you don't want any rest.

"You want to play game after game so you can keep it going."

Notts travelled down to the south coast last night – and Kevan is confident they will have recovered sufficiently to produce another good display at Dean Court.

He said: "This game was in our minds as soon as we beat Grimsby.

"We know that it's going to be another tough match but we'll be rested up and ready to go.

"We're playing well at the moment, and winning games, so we believe we can win wherever we play."