James O'Connor sees potential at Walsall

Dean Smith's side have reached the club's first Wembley final in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and remain in with a chance of clinching a League One play-off spot.

But Brummie O'Connor believes the Saddlers have yet to unlock their full potential and claims top-six spots are still very much up for grabs.

He said: "Even the teams who are in the automatic positions at the moment are not guaranteed it.

"They can fall away or someone can come out of nowhere. I really think we have the quality to beat anyone in this league and it has been quite surprising.

"I think a lot of games we do end up dominating and maybe when you are coming from the outside you don't realise the quality which is here, and maybe some of our own players don't realise the quality yet. We want to fulfil that potential."

O'Connor has started the Saddlers' last three games in his favoured centre-back role, in place of the injured James Chambers, having played most of his games this season at right-back.

And the former Villa trainee admits he is enjoying a stint in the heart of defence.

But the 30-year-old also believes competition for places throughout the team is keeping all of Smith's players on their toes, with Chambers and Paul Downing emerging as first-choice centre-halves.

He said: "I have probably been limited in chances to play in that position because of the good form of others. That is good for the side and the manager to have.

"We need competition for places throughout the squad and I feel we are starting to get that.

"People like James Baxendale are out at the moment but the form of the wide men has been fantastic, getting assists and goals and we want that throughout the side."