Saddlers' Smith: Play-offs not a huge leap
Dean Smith believes it will not require a "major jump" for Walsall to become serious play-off contenders.
The Saddlers round off the current League One campaign when they visit champions Bristol City tomorrow.
A Walsall win could see them jump into the top 10 and towards a potential finish within six points of the play-off positions.
Smith, who accepts his team should have done better this season, believes the gap can be bridged.
"Sixty-eight points might get you in the play-offs this year," he said. "We are only nine points off that and it is not a massive jump to claim those nine points after the start we had.
"Drawing against Port Vale, drawing against Bradford and losing to Yeovil, it was a real tough start to the season.
"We didn't have many points, then we started picking up."
Smith, who believes he is building from a stronger base this summer than in previous close seasons, is set to discover his playing budget in the coming week before sitting down with the club's remaining out of contract players.
With the club still waiting to hear whether goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell will accept a new deal, Smith must decide on the futures of skipper Adam Chambers together with defensive quartet James Chambers, Ben Purkiss, James O'Connor and Mal Benning.
"Before I know where I am going to strengthen, I need to know whether the out of contract players are going to sign," he added.
"My first job is to get them on board and signed and then we can look at the areas."
Tomorrow's game is a repeat of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, in which the Saddlers were comfortably beaten 2-0.
But Smith believes they are approaching the re-match with greater confidence.
"The first goal will be key," he said. "They got it at Wembley and on the stage we were on, it gave them belief and knocked us out of our stride.
"We went into the final on a disappointing run of form.
"We are going into this game on a good run of form so our mentality is different."
The Saddlers have the unenviable task of watching their opponents pick up silverware for the second time this season, when the League One trophy is presented.
