Three points are essential if second in the table Charlton are to maintain their hopes of snatching the FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League title out of Arsenal’s grasp.

But that’s not the only competition on the minds of Stoney and her club colleagues, who in a few weeks’ time will be meeting Everton in The FA Women’s Cup Final.

"The immediate priority is the League," says Stoney, "and if we beat Bristol Rovers that will keep the pressure on Arsenal.

"But we also want to win our last two League games to build up confidence for The FA Cup Final, which we are desperate to win after losing in the last two finals."

After their visit to Bristol, Charlton – in their last League match – will take on leaders Arsenal, who in the meantime are set to face Fulham in their penultimate fixture.

So, as the Gunners are currently four points ahead of Charlton, if they beat the Cottagers they will take the title irrespective of the season’s final league match.

"We know the title is out of our own hands," says Stoney, "and if we don’t win it we can only blame ourselves because we’ve thrown away some stupid points.

"But hopefully Fulham can do us a favour and get something out of their game against Arsenal, which would leave it down to us as long as we’ve beaten Bristol Rovers.

"So it’s a real must-win game for us on Sunday, and it won’t be easy because Rovers are a useful side who’ve done really well this season.

"They lost 5-1 to Arsenal last week, but that was by far their heaviest defeat of the season and they’ll be determined to bounce back by getting a good result against us.

"We’ve already beaten them in the League and both Cups, though - and on Sunday we just have to make it four wins out of four against them."

Last month Charlton bounced back from the disappointment of their Premier League Cup final defeat by Arsenal to beat Rovers 1-0 in The FA Cup Semi-Final.

And having previously beaten the West Country outfit in both the League and the Premier League Cup quarter-finals, the Addicks will once more be favourites on Sunday.

In the weekend’s only other National Division fixture, Birmingham City could leapfrog Leeds United into fifth place with an away win against the Yorkshire side.

Regional Divisions

While the promotion and relegations issues are already settled in the Southern Division, there are still some battles to be fought up north.

The tussle for promotion, however, could be over on Sunday - Sunderland will be heading for the National Division if they take at least a point at Stockport County.

At the other end of the table the picture is not nearly so clear, though bottom side Coventry City are facing a critical weekend.

If they lose at fourth from bottom Manchester City and third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday beat Oldham Curzon, the Sky Blues’ fate will be all but sealed.