GIANFRANCO Zola insists all the pressure will be on Hull City and not his Watford side during the final weeks of the promotion race.
A three-point gap separates the Tigers in second from third-placed Watford after Steve Bruce's side claimed a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Hornets could only manage a 0-0 draw with Cardiff later that day and know only a slip-up from City can leave them with hope of landing an automatic promotion spot.
Watford travel to Peterborough United this weekend knowing anything less than a victory could see the Tigers pull further clear with a win at Ipswich Town.
But Zola maintains that his side will face the final five games of the campaign free of pressure.
He said: "We have no pressure, the pressure is on others. We are doing everything we can to be in the position we are in, and to improve it.
"If the others don't win the games then we'll see. But we have to make sure we play with the same enthusiasm and the same positivity we have so far. We will try to win all the games and we will see what the others do."
A sharp dip in form shown by Crystal Palace, who have claimed just two points from a possible 15 since beating City last month, seemingly leaves just City and Watford as the contenders to join Cardiff in the top two.
Watford defender Joel Ekstrand has already written off the prospect of chasing down Cardiff's eight-point cushion over the play-off pack and says a two-horse race needs City to falter.
"Cardiff are pretty safe to go up and it's us and Hull battling for the other automatic place," he said.
"Beating Hull last week was massive – it keeps everything alive a little bit more. Every game is like a final now.
"We have to concentrate on ourselves rather than look at the league table, pick up as many points as possible and hope Hull slip up."
• CARDIFF City can plant one foot in the Premier League as they look to make the most of their game in hand against Barnsley tonight.
The Championship leaders require eight points from their last six games to clinch promotion after holding third-placed Watford to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, maintaining an eight-point advantage over the play-off pack.
That target would be slashed to just five points if an in-form Barnsley side can be toppled in South Wales this evening and set Cardiff up for the potential of promotion this weekend.
Malky Mackay's side, who have held top spot since late November, are five points clear as they bid to end a 51-year wait for top-flight football.
