Preston North End centre half Jordan Storey says that the squad are determined to grasp their opportunity when the team return to action in less than a fortnight.
The Lilywhites will get underway against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on the weekend of 20th June and the PNE No.14 says there is a lot of play for that is motivating the group.
“All of the lads want to finish the season now and try and make the Play-Offs,” he told iFollow PNE. “It is ours to lose now. We have had a strong season and we don’t want to waste all that hard work we have put in.
“Over the past few years we have been that nearly team, so it would be nice to make the Play-Offs and finish off a really good season.
“Preston North End is a big club and it is our time and it would be nice, even with everything going on, to get to the Play-Offs and win the Play-Offs, it would be great for the club, great for the players and a great achievement for everyone involved with the club.”
The former Exeter City man has enjoyed being back with the clubm having spent lockdown with his family: “It has been good to be back in and see all the boys,” he continued. “It is nice to get out of the house. It has been a difficult period during lockdown, having to stay in and follow government guidelines, but it is nice to be back out with the boys, getting back to work.
“I was back down with my family. It was nice to spend eight or nine weeks with them, as that wouldn’t have been the case normally, so it was nice to be there with them, see them a lot more. It did drag towards the end, but it was good to be there.
“It was frustrating not to see everyone. We did a group call and fitness session every Wednesday, so all the boys got to see each other, but it was difficult from a social point of view, but when you have thousands of people dying, you have to be smart and you have to be sensible and help save lives.
“It was nice to have a break. It did drag towards the end, where you didn’t have anything to look forward to, so when we got the date to go back, it was a relief that we could start training.
“We have got to still be careful. Even though it is full contact, we have to be wary of our distances and not be near one another for too long, but it I nice for it to be progressing and to be able to play small-sided games against each other and that bit of competitiveness back.”
The 22-year-old central defender says that whilst it will be a strange experience when the games kick-off behind closed doors, he admits there will be no extra motivation needed.
“It will be different, but the opposition have to deal with it as well. It could come in handy at away games, especially against teams with a large set of supporters; it could work for us, but both teams are in the same position and it is who copes with it best.
“Because we have something to play for, that will give us the extra motivation we need. We could be coming up against teams who are looking like they having nothing to play for, but because we have something on the line and something we really want to achieve as a team, that will hopefully give us the extra kick that we need.
“The gaffer won’t let it slip for us. It is a good thing though, as a group we sometimes need that kick in the backside to get us through tough times and it will be a great boost for us,” he added.