SHAUN PEARSON wants to get one over on Wrexham to boost Grimsby Town's chances of avoiding relegation but he is backing his former club to go on and clinch a second successive promotion.

Pearson, who made 132 league appearances during his four-season stint at The Racecourse from 2017-21, is assistant head coach of the Mariners who are fourth bottom and battling to beat the drop in League Two.

By contrast, Wrexham are flying high at the other end of the table and well-placed in the quest for a top-three finish with eight games to go, but the Reds face competition in the race for automatic promotion.

Grimsby - managed by another ex-Wrexham defender, Dave Artell - host Phil Parkinson's men at Blundell Park on Saturday and although Pearson is focussed on picking up a vital victory, he believes the Reds have got enough quality in the ranks to go straight up.

"It is wide open up there and fascinating to see how it plays out," said Pearson.

"If somebody told them at the start of the season that Wrexham are going to be third going into the last eight games, I'm sure they'd have said 'fantastic' with it being the first season back in the Football League after so long.

"I don't think there would be too many grumbles if you are going into the last few games in an automatic promotion spot.

"Like us at the bottom end, you have just got to try and put a consistent run together, and come out on the end of as many right results as possible.

"It is not like they need to win every game. It is just about amassing points.

"Hopefully they don't get too many on Saturday but at the same time, I'd be lying if I said I don't think Wrexham will be in the top-three at the end of the season.

"If you look at them over the course of the season and the quality they've got, they have got enough players with match-winning moments in them.

"You always want to play well but when you get to this stage of the season, it is not so much your performance level; it is finding a way to win and with players like Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee in your team, you would always fancy yourselves to find enough moments where you win games, and that will hopefully be enough to get them over the line.

"We will be going all out for victory on Saturday but after that, there's nothing more I'd love to see than Wrexham get promoted."

Pearson became a huge fans' favourite during his time at Wrexham before leaving to re-join Grimsby where he had previously enjoyed a six-year stay.

Although he is now in the Mariners corner - he moved into coaching last summer after deciding to call time on his playing career as a centre-back - the 34-year-old still holds Wrexham, where he lived during his time at the club, close to his heart.

Pearson is pleased to see the club on the up under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

"In my time at Wrexham, I built up some really close friendships and relationships with people that will last a lifetime, and some memories that will last a lifetime," added Pearson.

"I love seeing them enjoy what it is happening to the football club.

"Some people get a little bit bitter about it but in reality, every football fan would want to be taken over by - not so much people with money - but people that have taken over Wrexham and doing what they are doing with the football club, and making such a special thing."