SHAUN Pearson says Grimsby Town are gunning for third-place – not just a play-off spot.
Finishing third would mean that Rob Scott and Paul Hurst's men would play the first leg of the play-off semi-final away, before bringing their opponents back to Blundell Park to decide who would book their place in the Wembley final.
Pearson starred in Town's midweek victory at Macclesfield – scoring the second goal in an impressive 3-1 win.
Speaking ahead of the club's third game in six days against Southport tomorrow, the 23-year-old said it was a victory to show that Town are a team 'on the up' again – at just the right time.
"It was a massive win for us," he said.
"If they'd have won, they would have felt they were in with a shout, but that result puts them to bed now.
"At Macclesfield, I think we definitely looked like a team back on the up and long may that continue.
"We've just got to keep going and keep up our performances and you never know how high we can finish.
"I'm not going to say we'll win it or anything like that but we want to finish as high up as we can. It would be nice to get that third spot.
"That would mean that we'd have the away leg first and bring whoever we get back to Blundell Park for the second leg – that would be a big advantage.
"The main thing is to get in those Play-Offs first and foremost and then let's see where it takes us."
He continued: "Mentally, the last two games have been a real boost. We've got a young side – apart from the couple of older heads that are in there – but when you go through those tough times as we did last month, it's difficult.
"Everything seems to be going right for you all season and then suddenly it just stops and you can't understand why.
"Hopefully we can keep this run going because we want to be the form team going into the Play-Offs."
