Midfielder Alan Browne feels North End 'can’t afford to slip up' against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday as they look to put pressure on the teams around them.
PNE currently sit eighth in the Championship with a total of 60 points as they enter their final stretch of games, with just eight fixtures remaining.
Only two points separates themselves and fifth placed Derby County, who North End face at Deepdale on Easter Monday, but before that they travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday.
Speaking to iFollowPNE, Browne spoke of just how important the next match is, saying: "Teams are always looking at other teams around them and various results and they’ll definitely be looking at us now we’re within touching distance, we’ll obviously be keeping an eye on them as well but our game’s up first and that’s the one that matters to us.
“It’s important that we go there with real enthusiasm and look to get the three points because it helps us climb the table. We’ll be up there providing that we get those three points and teams will be looking at us as a real threat then but I think it’s a game that we can’t afford to slip up on.
“As long as we can focus on ourselves and focus on winning games I can't see any reason why we won’t be up there.”
The last time the Lilywhites and Sheffield Wednesday met was on the opening day of the season, when a Daniel Johnson penalty earned a 1-0 win for North End, and Browne is hoping for three points once again.
“It’s always tough going to places like that, they haven’t had their best of seasons, it’s probably been a disappointing one for them so with players coming back now they’ll want to end the season on a high.
“They won’t just show up and play for nothing, they’ll be fighting for their places in the teams, contracts and so on so we know it’ going to be a tough game."
“It’s always a tough place to go but with the form we’re in, and I don’t think we have any serious injuries at the moment, the squad should go there looking to get all three points."
The midfielder has recently returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland, making his first senior start for the national side and playing 68 minutes in their 1-0 loss to Turkey last Friday, despite the loss Browne gained some great experience.
On his first start, the midfielder said: “It’s always an honour to represent my country and it was no different this time around and to start as well was great for me. Overall it was probably a disappointing outcome but a great experience and one I won’t forget.
“They are two great minds [Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane] and obviously they’ve got a wealth of experience under their belts from playing themselves and coaching, so it was good to get them for a week and learn from them and hopefully I can take that into my game here now as well.”
“I think the way they set it up was probably perfect, usually you go away play two games and with them being friendlies, your club probably aren’t the happiest about it and are wary of you getting injured. But I think it’s been perfect, training for a week and then the one game and get back in and ready for this weekends game which is the one that matters.”
You can watch the full interview with Alan Browne by clicking on the video above.