Shrewsbury Town were today finalising preparations for their most important weekend of the season - with manager Gary Peters warning his team not to discount the chasing pack from the play-off race.
Town tomorrow travel to Adams Park - where they are winless in six attempts - for a seventh-versus-eighth clash with Wycombe which many see as a shoot-out for a place in the end of season lottery.
But Peters is adamant that is not the case - insisting his side can’t be blinkered on the threat posed by Paul Lambert’s side and must be aware of the teams coming up behind them.
“If you are just looking at Wycombe you would say to go there and not lose would be decent,” said the Town chief.
“But for me that would be foolish because we are not just going with Wycombe for that spot. If we draw tomorrow, Peterborough or even Bristol Rovers could catch up a couple of points on both of us with a win.
“We had a late charge last season and if we had beaten Lincoln we would have got the play-offs, so we have to be aware of teams sneaking up on the rails.
“We will be doing what we have done everywhere this season and trying to win the game.”
With MK Dons due at Gay Meadow on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, Town’s players and management are aware this is a weekend which could make-or-break their end-of-season aspirations.
But Peters insists he has been involved in more pressurised situations than what he faces over the next three days in his two-and-a-half years at the club.
“There was a lot more worry in the first year when I was brought in to try and keep the club up,” he added.
“This is important because we are trying to get to the play-offs. We have got seven games to go and to very hard ones this weekend.
“If we are still in and around the top seven by the time we look at the table on Bank Holiday Monday evening, we have a chance.”
Much interest will be surrounding Peters’ team selection tomorrow with the Town boss guaranteeing changes following the defensive debacle in Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Bury.
Skipper Richard Hope is sure to be pushing for a recall after his surprise exclusion for the visit of the Shakers, while Andy Cooke and Michael Symes gave Peters plenty to ponder with goals in the reserves 3-3 draw against Barnsley on Tuesday.
By James Garrison
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