WANDERERS are already tuned in to making a success of the play-offs, says Gethin Jones.

Despite still having a mathematical chance of automatic promotion on Saturday – a scenario that would need Derby County to lose at home to relegated Carlisle United and Bolton also win comfortably at Peterborough United – vice-captain Jones says the dressing room is maintaining a pragmatic view.

Destiny has not been in Wanderers’ hands for a couple of weeks now, which has given Ian Evatt’s squad a little more time to be mentally prepared for a two-legged semi-final.

Jones maintains that the Whites will be ready should Derby slip unexpectedly but after their promotion rivals did the business at Cambridge United last weekend, he says the players are also ready to focus on the next challenge.

“To be honest, we have all kind of said it has been better to find out now than to lose out on the final day against Peterborough,” Jones told The Bolton News. “There is a quick turnaround to the first leg of the play-offs, then.

“It was horrible to find that out, of course, but we will take it in our stride and focus on Peterborough in the last game. That will really show where we are at, but we have to go into that game confident and also then the play-offs because we still have a brilliant chance to get promotion.”

Peterborough’s defeat at Cheltenham in midweek means Bolton are all-but guaranteed third spot, which means the away leg will take place on Saturday, May 4. Depending on the opposition, the match could yet move from its current 3pm kick-off slot.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson made seven changes to his team to rest key players – but whether he decides to bring them back this weekend remains to be seen.

Evatt has said his side will go to the Weston Homes Stadium looking to win and is also planning to restore Ricardo Santos to the heart of his defence, ensuring he is sufficiently sharp for any looming play-offs.

Jones insists the mood within the squad is upbeat but he accepts that there are issues to address if Wanderers want to be the side lifting the play-off trophy on May 18 at Wembley.

“There is disappointment because we have said all season, we feel like we are the best team but at the end of the day we have not achieved what we wanted,” he said.

“We are still in a brilliant position and I think in the last few games against good opposition – for example, Portsmouth who have just won the league – I thought we dominated it.

“That is something we have talked about all season, sometimes we haven’t taken our chances. Everything between both boxes has been brilliant but we have to stop the sloppy goals and score the chances that we get.

“We beat Port Vale 2-0 but it could have been five or six.

“The lads are confident. If we play the way we can play, stay confident, then we will have no problems but we have to stay focussed.

“After Tuesday and Shrewsbury we had a few days to reflect on things and came to the reality that it is going to be play-offs. But we’re still in a great position to get ourselves promoted."