PETER Gentle says it is time to drop the negativity surrounding his Hull FC team as they begin their Grand Final quest.
Calling the start of the play-offs the beginning of a whole new competition, Gentle is eager to see the slate wiped clean and says his team are confident of having a real crack at reaching the Old Trafford showpiece for only the second time.
With Hull preparing to play their final home game of the year when Catalan Dragons arrive at the KC Stadium tonight, the coach wants the club's fans to stick by them.
"It has been an up and down season, but there have been reasons. We are now in the last eight, so let's have a crack at it and see what we can do," said Gentle.
"We know we can play. We need to drop all the negativity, forget all the doom and gloom, forget about Wembley. This is a new competition so let's go out and play it.
"The fans have to stick by us. Sometimes there are reasons and excuses for inconsistency, but I have to admit we have not been at our best at times this year.
"But we have also competed with the top teams and achieved a Wembley appearance. It is not all doom and gloom.
"We've qualified for the play-offs and got to the last two of the Challenge Cup, now this is a new competition and we'll see how far we can go."
Hull ended the regular season in sixth place, matching last year's finishing position, albeit with four fewer points.
The Black and Whites boast two wins from their three meetings with Catalan this season and have not lost to the French side at the KC for five years.
But Hull head into the game on the back of a disappointing loss, having struggled against St Helens last week.
Gentle admits improvements are a must if his side are to progress and said: "We need to be a lot better than we have been.
"We can turn this around so quickly and the players know that, there is an excitement around the place. We know we can be better than we have been and we know we have to be.
"We have to win and we have to be at our best to do it. It will be a tight and very tough game."
