JAAP STAM says it would be “dangerous” for Reading to focus solely on the point they need to secure a play-off spot.
Royals will guarantee themselves a place in the top six as long as they do not lose to Wigan Athletic at Madejski Stadium on tomorrow (3pm) with a game to spare.
But Stam insists that for him, the target is still the same.
“Everybody knows we only need a point,” said the manager.
“But we don’t need to think we only need a point because that’s a dangerous way of thinking.
“What we need is to win the game.
“To win these games is very important for the morale of the group and the team and not thinking we only need a point then that’s enough.
“I don’t like thinking that way.
“I like to think about having a good performance as a team and then winning the game. That’s what we’ll try to do.”
Reading will be facing a side in Wigan who know anything but victory will see them relegated to League One.
But after losing to another side battling relegation last time out, 3-2 at Nottingham Forest, Stam has called on his side to show a response from their display at the City Ground.
“As a player you want to redeem yourself for how we started the game against Forest,” he said.
“It wasn’t good enough compared to what we have done this season.
“The players want to show everybody that they are a good player, we are a good team and that we can win these games.
“If we want to have a result, we have to be sharp every game and then we can make it difficult for every team within the league.
“If too many players are not in the shape that they need to be, then it is going to be difficult for us.”
While there are still two games to play and the job is not yet done, a place in the play-offs is now tantalisingly close.
And Stam says moments like this do not come around very often.
“You’re not going to be in this situation many times, that you can end up in the top six in the Championship,” he said.
“To make it through the semi-final, get to the final playing at Wembley and getting promotion to the Premier League, I think you need to do everything you can do as a player to achieve that.
“Then you can look yourself in the mirror and say, I’ve done everything I could.
“If we don’t succeed because the opposition is better, then OK.
“But you don’t want a situation as a player after the game where you’re thinking, I can still play half a game or I’m not really tired because then you can kick yourself in the head and I can say you’re stupid if you’re thinking like that.
“In this part of the season, if you’re there then you need to give everything to get results.”
Stam will once again be without key duo Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg, but there is every expectation that both would be fit for any potential play-off games.
Tiago Ilori, Deniss Rakels and Reece Oxford all came through Reading Under-23s game on Monday evening and are available should Stam decide to select them.
It is a particularly special game for goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, who is set to face the club he spent five years at.
And the Omani says it is tough to see the Latics struggling in the relegation zone.
“It’s sad to see them in that position,” said Al-Habsi.
“I really enjoyed my time there. I had a fantastic relationship with the fans and everyone in the football club.
“But for us, we have to do the job. We have to go there and win the game.
“We know from the last two games we need one point, but we don’t need to think about the point. We need to show ourselves as a good team playing at home.
“We’ve been fantastic at Madejski Stadium all season, winning 15 out of 22 and we just need to continue.”