Salford City star Liam Shephard insists Carlisle United’s opponents are full of belief ahead of a game the visitors regard as must-win.
The Ammies head to Brunton Park hoping to keep their own play-off hopes alive.
They are three points behind the Blues with two games to go, and defeat would leave them unable to catch the Cumbrians – and facing a last-day scramble.
But defender Shephard feels the division’s top scorers have plenty to be confident about.
“With the amount of goals we have scored, we are [always] confident that we’re going to score,” he said.
“It’s about shutting up at the back and making sure we don’t concede.
Paul Simpson gives team news update ahead of Blues' clash with Salford
“As for the game on Saturday…the hardest thing to do is score goals. Scoring goals wins you games.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we have to win, that’s how I feel, how lot of us feel.”
Salford, backed by their Class of 92 Manchester United legend co-owners, are trying to reach League One for the first time in their history.
While Neil Wood's sixth-placed side could still need results elsewhere to go their way, Shephard says it is counter-productive to worry about the outcome of other games.
“It’s in our hands but out of our hands at the same time,” he added.
“As long as we keep doing what we’re doing, it’s down to others to slip up.
“You can get caught when you’re looking at other teams. Sometimes it can put a pressure on you. I think it’s the wrong way to go about it, watching other teams and hoping they lose.
“We focus on ourselves. If we do our job, then whatever happens at least we’ve done our job.”
On the prospect of tackling Paul Simpson’s fellow high-fliers, Shephard added: “We will look at their strengths and weaknesses, try and capitalise on their weaknesses and stop their strengths – that’s all you can do.
“I don’t think we need to change much, with the way we’re playing. We’re confident in ourselves. I think it will be a good game to watch and it can go either way.”
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