"IF we play to our potential then it will take a massive effort from Newport to stop us achieving what we want."
That's the view of Grimsby Town joint boss Paul Hurst, left, ahead of tomorrow's Conference play-off semi-final second leg.
The Mariners need to win by at least one goal to keep their promotion dreams alive – and take their place in the Conference play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, May 5.
And Town's managers have been quick to up the pressure on the Exiles after Wednesday's first leg home defeat.
"As much as we wouldn't have set out to lose the game 1-0, in many ways we're the team with the least to lose," said Hurst.
"It makes it nice and easy – we know we've got to win there, so let's be on the front foot and be nice and positive.
"We're being written off by certain people, so if we can prove them wrong that's what we'll do.
"But, for Newport, it's a funny scoreline. Do they try and get that second goal and kill the tie off – or do they try to protect what they've got?
"The fans down there will be urging them forward and that may just leave them with a tricky decision.
"I'm sure the manager will have a clear mind of what he wants to do, but when you get caught up in the game and the atmosphere, it's whether the players can carry that out.
"That's something we'll look at and see if we can take advantage of."
He added: "If we play to our potential then it will take a massive effort from Newport to stop us achieving what we want.
"We've told the players to have no regrets – don't leave anything in the dressing room and make sure everything is left out on that pitch.
"If that's not good enough then we can't ask any more of them.
"I just hope the team that we select play with freedom, and the scoreline that we're going in with might help us do that."
With striker Lenell John-Lewis (thigh) and defender Simon Ford (hamstring) both ruled out, midfielder Frankie Artus is the only doubt, due to illness.
Meanwhile, Joe Colbeck returns from his four-match suspension to provide more competition on the flanks as the Mariners target their 11th league away win this season.
"It does add more pressure to Newport to deliver in front of their own fans because there's that feeling that if they don't finish the job, they've messed it up," Hurst continued.
"Justin Edinburgh was honest in his assessment of the game and has been warning against complacency.
"But, as managers, we can say all we want and ask questions of players, but it comes down to when they're out there and the occasion does strange things to people.
"We need to score, but at the same time we don't need to score in the first minute.
"We'd certainly like to get that first goal to give the players more belief and ask more questions of Newport – the whole atmosphere in the ground would change."
The Mariners will take the opportunity to watch their potential play-off final opponents tomorrow – from their hotel in Newport.
Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham go head-to-head in their semi-final second leg at 1.30pm, with the Welshmen holding a 2-1 advantage from the first installment.
Joint boss Paul Hurst says the opportunity to watch the clash on Welsh TV could help take his players' minds off their crunch encounter later that day.
"We won't gather the players together to watch it, but they may choose to watch it in their rooms," he said.
"Either way, the focus is on our game, but sometimes it can help if you've got something like that to watch and take your mind off of the game in a good way.
"There will be more than enough time to start thinking about our game after our short coach journey to the ground.
"We don't want them to waste too much energy worrying about the game because that's when the fatigue can kick in later on."
