Leading scorer James Constable believes the team haven’t been getting the breaks in front of goal recently, or they would have been in the same scoring form as they were in the first half of the season.

But maybe that will change in the play-offs, he said.

Matt Green said his shot on the turn against Wrexham last week, which beat the keeper all ends up, but came back off the bar, was an example of how fortune had gone against the strikers lately.

And 23-goal (26 if you count the Chester hat-trick) Constable agreed. “We’ve been feeling we haven’t really been getting the bounce of the ball and that bit of luck that other teams have been getting against us (as with Eastbourne’s penalty!) “We have been creating, and the endeavour’s there, but maybe not the end product. Maybe, coming into the play-offs, the luck will hopefully change.”

Boos Chris Wilder said Constable was sometimes trying too hard and the striker is conscious of not burning up all his energy in competing for the ball.

“That’s the case at any level,” he said. “If you listen to Wayne Rooney this season, he’s been told to stay up front and do a bit less chasing.

“It is true, you’ve got to be careful about how much work you put in because it’s a long game, 90 minutes, and obviously this time there’s two legs, so it’s vital to curb your enthusiasm and do it in the right areas.”

But he added: “We’re confident. It’s a massive game and these are the ones you look forward to playing in.”