STEVE Bruce wants his Hull City side to forget about the fortunes of promotion rivals Watford and focus solely on securing a win at Barnsley that would seal a famous Premier League return.
The Tigers saw their lead in second place trimmed from seven points to four on Saturday as Gianfranco Zola's Watford revived their flagging chase with a resounding 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.
City are still the red-hot favourites to follow title-winners Cardiff on a direct route into the top flight, but all attentions must now turn to Watford's televised trip to Leicester City on Friday night.
A defeat for the Hornets would be enough to see City promoted before their trip to Barnsley the next day.
However, if Watford can keep the fight for second spot alive with a win or a draw, the Tigers would be required to match the result of their last remaining rival to trigger a promotion party at Oakwell.
A momentous week lies in wait for City as they chase only their second ever promotion to the top flight, and an upbeat Bruce is determined not to let the disappointment of Friday's 0-0 draw with Bristol City linger.
"We're in a wonderful position and it's important we stay positive," Bruce told the Mail.
"We're four points ahead, there's two games left and we need to win one of them.
"Who wouldn't have taken that a month ago, let alone at the start of the season?
"We've got to get it in our minds that we have to go to Barnsley and get a result. If we can do that then we're promoted. Forget about what Watford do, it's all about us.
"If we think we can keep relying on other teams to get us promoted then we'll be badly mistaken."
The Tigers' goal-less draw at home to Bristol City reduced the points target required to just three and, regardless of Watford's efforts, victory either against Barnsley or Cardiff in the remaining two games will book City's top-flight ticket.
Any faint hopes of celebrating over the weekend were dashed as Watford notched only their second win in eight games.
Crystal Palace, who needed to win all four remaining games to stand any chance of catching City, are out of the reckoning for second spot after a 2-2 draw with Leicester.
Bruce now wants his side to be masters of their own fate and said: "We were disappointed on Friday night, of course, but in some ways it hasn't really made a difference.
"Yes, Watford can now afford to get a draw at Leicester and keep it alive, but it's always been about us and what we do.
"If we were to get promoted on Friday, then that's wonderful. But I expect Watford to get something from Leicester so it's important our only focus is on going to Barnsley and getting a result there."
CITY are expected to be backed by over 5,000 fans at Oakwell this weekend. Already 3,500 of the club's initial allocation have been sold, with the remaining tickets on sale from the KC Stadium this morning.
