THE pessimists will worry that Barnsley, having nothing to play for but pride, will be relaxed while the optimists will point to the Tykes' recent home form and see a glimmer of hope.

Whichever the viewpoint, Wanderers know nothing but a win will do at Oakwell tonight if they are to keep the pressure on Blackburn and take their bid for automatic promotion into a nail-biting final week.

"Since Nigel Spackman took over and Faz (Dereck Fazackerly) joined him, Barnsley have based their game on trying to create a passing-type of game," Sam Allardyce acknowledged, attempting to weigh up the possibilities.

"They've had some success out of it but, by the same token, they can be susceptible.

"Preston won 4-0 there and Stockport won there too so maybe we can take advantage of a lack of confidence. If we can do that we are looking at a very valuable three points.

"We have to accept, however, that they are now in a position of safety and that might relax them to the point of helping them play their best football. That could make it very disfficult for us."

Pay your money and take your pick.

The bare facts are that the odds are stacked heavily against Wanderers. The wrong set of results this weekend could see Graeme Souness' Rovers - currently four points clear in runners-up spot - secure the second automatic promotion place.

But there's a fierce pride and a determination in the Reebok camp that, although the play-offs are now a distinct possibility, they must not make it easy for the Ewood Park men, who are at home to Portsmouth tomorrow.

"With the games running out, nothing other than a win will do," Allardyce acknowledged ahead of the Roses battle.

"We have to win at Oakwell then sit with our fingers and toes crossed tomorrow afternoon hoping that Portsmouth, in their difficult period at this stage of the season, get something from Blackburn.

"If that doesn't happen it will go to the last two games where we'll have to win both and they'll have to lose both. It looks unlikely but you never know."

Colin Hendry, rocked by his six-match international ban, is likely to be missing after being laid low this week by a viral infection. But Simon Charlton and Paul Warhurst, who both missed the win against Norwich last Saturday with ankle injuries, are back in the squad and Dean Holdsworth should be fit despite needing treatment on a slight groin strain.

Barnsley skipper, Steve Chettle, could be set for a surprisingly quick return to the Tykes' defence after missing last week's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday with a back injury which was first thought to have ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Jon Parkin, who stood in for Chettle at Hillsborough, is likely to make way.

Matt Appleby, sidelined for three months after a double hernia operation, has still to play under Spackman, but could be in the reckoning.

Rookie midfielder Alex Neil is doubtful but Mitch Ward should be fit.