STEVE Bruce insists Hull City still have the necessary resolve and character to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The battle for second spot in the Championship will be decided on the final day of the season after the Tigers blew a golden chance to seal their top-flight return, losing 2-0 at Barnsley on Saturday.
City's lead over third-placed Watford is down to just a point and they must target victory over Cardiff on Saturday to guarantee promotion.
A third game without a win or a goal has left the Tigers wobbling, but Bruce is adamant that there is one more big performance to come from his side.
"We've seen this side beaten and bounce back all season," said Bruce.
"We're now in the thick of it. You could say we haven't handled the situation as well as we'd have liked, but I'm quietly confident we will produce a big performance next week to get us over the line.
"You lick your wounds but the only way to get over this will be to respond.
"We're not mentally shot. We didn't perform and haven't performed for the last week, but to call them mentally shot would be an insult to them."
Since winning 2-1 at Ipswich Town a fortnight ago to pull six points clear, City have taken just one point from three games against sides currently occupying the relegation places.
A win at Barnsley would have confirmed the Tigers' promotion but, in front of 5,909 travelling supporters, Bruce's men froze on the big stage.
Goals from Jacob Mellis and Chris O'Grady handed Barnsley a deserved victory and teed up a tense final weekend at the summit of the Championship.
Bruce said: "Am I worried? I'm not as happy as I'd like to be that's for certain, but in my job you dust yourself down.
"You try not to get too high when things are going well, and try not to get low in these times.
"I'm not going to try and kid people, that's not my scene, it was an awful performance. We were nowhere near good enough. We let the supporters down.
"It's possibly as badly as we've played this season but you don't go from being a good player to a bad one overnight.
"We've got to lift them all this week."
In contrast to City's recent stumbles, Watford have kept the promotion race very much alive with back-to-back wins.
Their final fixture of the season sees Gianfranco Zola's side facing Leeds United at Vicarage Road and another win would leave City requiring three points against Cardiff.
Bruce admits the high stakes are hampering his side, but maintains the Tigers hold all the aces going into the final day of the season at the KC.
He added: "It's normal to have nerves. I'd be disappointed if they didn't have the odd butterfly, but it's about handling it and playing to the level you're used to playing at.
"For Watford the shackles have been off. If we win we're up so I'd still rather be in our position.
"Of course they've had two wonderful victories and will be feeling good about themselves, but you never know in the Championship.
"We've got to do our job this weekend and be better than what we were at Barnsley."
