STUART Mulligan will settle for nothing less than the NWCL Division Two championship for Nelson as the pressure mounts with four games to go.

Four wins will guarantee the title goes to the Blues as they look for their first league championship in almost 50 years -- they last won the Lancashire Combination in 1951/2.

And, after being in the title hunt for most of the season, midfielder Mulligan -- in his 'best season ever ' -- isn't ready to give it up lightly.

"We want to go up as champions. I don't even want to think about anything else. It's all that will be on my mind for the next two weeks," said the 30-year-old who is, he says, 'just peaking' in his football career.

Nelson -- who were ousted from the top of the table by Warrington Town midweek -- face Squires Gate at home tomorrow, then it's a trip to Daisy Hill on Tuesday, followed by Alsager next Saturday.

Three wins and the Blues are cruising but they don't want it to come down to the final game of the season -- a tough clash at home to fellow title-chasers Warrington on Bank Holiday Monday.

"They've beaten us twice already this season but, saying that, I think if it came down to the wire, we would win."

Mulligan has scored his season's highest tally of 15 goals this term since rejoining the Blues in the middle of last season after ten years at West Lancs side Barnoldswick.

He was therefore part of the Nelson side which just missed out last season -- finishing third -- but, after a minor blip where they had just two wins in ten games, Mulligan is confident history won't repeat itself.

Their last two games have been two wins and he added: "You do wonder if it's a case of deja vu but we are closer this season. Last season, we were probably quite happy with how we did, but this season it will be a major disappointment if we don't go up.

"Perhaps, around ten games ago, we got a bit complacent and that's when it went pear-shaped.

"But Bayles (boss John Bailey) has got us refocussed so history won't repeat itself.

"We had a clear the air talks for about one hour in the changing rooms after we drew 2-2 with Oldham Town last month.

"It did the trick. There was no shouting, just talking about what we thought was going wrong.

"Everything was out in the open. It seemed to be the solution and now it's down to the nitty gritty."

And Mulligan is confident his team-mates can make it through the final countdown.

"I think it's the best Nelson side we have had in years," he explained. "We have four good strikers -- Jonathan Irvine, Kiko Rodriguez, Carl Howarth and Nigel Coates -- and we've needed all four.

"Bayles has mixed it, tried different combinations and it's kept them on their toes with competition for places.

"But we've been strong all over the park. We can't blow it now!"