JACK Hobbs says Hull City cannot allow trepidation to damage their automatic promotion hopes as Steve Bruce's high-flyers target one last sprint towards the Premier League.
As the Championship draws breath ahead of a testing schedule of eight games inside the final five weeks, second-placed City remain the side for the play-off pack to catch.
The Tigers begin their countdown with a testing trip to Huddersfield Town on Saturday before hosting their closest promotion rivals Watford at the KC Stadium next Tuesday.
A pivotal Easter programme promises to have a huge bearing on City's bid to reach the top flight and Hobbs says they approach this weekend with excitement, rather than with fear.
"You just have to look at what will be at stake in the last few weeks, getting promoted to the Premier League would be huge for the club and huge for all the players," Hobbs told the Mail.
"It's a great opportunity for us. It's one we should be looking forward to, rather than being afraid of it.
"You never know when something like this will come around again. The manager keeps telling us that it's important to go out there and enjoy it.
"That's easier said than done at times when the pressure is on, but you've got to make the most of this chance.
"It's still in our hands going into the last eight games. You can tell the excitement is building in supporters.
"They've been great all season and hopefully we can give them something to celebrate at the end of the year."
City return to action on Saturday a fortnight after losing 2-1 to promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest at the KC Stadium, a result that saw them miss the chance to pull clear in second spot.
The defeat to Forest – the first time City have lost this season when scoring the opener – was a tough pill to swallow, but Hobbs is certain a reaction will come against the Terriers.
"It's important to look forward now and to what will be a very tough game at Huddersfield," he added.
"We know we'll have to be on our games to get anything from that.
"The Watford game will obviously be a big one with us both fighting for promotion, but we can't look too beyond Huddersfield and making sure we get a result there."
City's final push will be done without the influence of Paul McShane. Ankle ligament damage has cut the Irish defender's season short and Hobbs, who missed the opening four months of the campaign through a knee injury, admits he feels sympathy.
"It's going to be a huge loss because he's had a fantastic season," said Hobbs, who was yesterday on hand at the KC to assist in season ticket sales for 2013-14.
"He's probably had one of his best years as a player, pretty much every week he's been outstanding.
"He's also one of the hardest working lads here, too, so it's tough to see someone so committed miss out on the biggest part of the season.
"We're fortunate in the sense we've got players who are very capable of coming in and filling the gap."
AN inexperienced City reserves side drew 0-0 at Oldham yesterday, with the fit-again Matty Fryatt not risked.
