BARROW AFC step up preparations ahead of a potentially season-defining week.

By next Saturday Pete Wild's Bluebirds will have played three times against Swindon Town and Grimsby Town, as well as welcoming Paul Simpson's Carlisle United to the SO Legal Stadium. 

Barrow begin this packed schedule this weekend with a trip to the County Ground to take on Jody Morris' 12th-placed Robins. 

The former Chelsea midfielder and coach's side have struggled for form in recent times with Swindon losing their last four games and failing to record a league victory in eight matches. Their last win came against Harrogate in February.

The Robins have also only won twice at the County Ground in 2023. 

Despite their lack of form, Swindon could do the double over the Bluebirds with a victory this weekend after defeating Wild's side 1-0 in December. 

Ahead of the match that kicks off Barrow's crowded schedule, the Bluebirds are five points adrift of the playoff places with their playoff dream remaining alive regardless of how faint it may be. 

Barrow also come into the game off the back of their 4-0 thumping of Scott Lindsay's Crawley Town on Easter Monday.

In this game, club-record signing Ged Garner claimed his first goal for the Bluebirds and top-scorer Josh Gordon walked away with the match ball after his first-ever EFL hat-trick, something that Wild reflected on after the game.

He said: "Josh works ever so hard for the team. He works to close people down, he grafts, and he wins headers, but because those around him got into good areas it allowed him to be a number nine today, and allowed him to be between the sticks where we want him to be and he has come away with the hat-trick ball so that will do lots for his confidence and I am really pleased for him."