Experienced Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has refused to give his inconsistent team a win-target over the closing rounds, saying such lofty expectations could leave the club's finals campaign in ruins.
The Tigers are one point outside the top eight and must start stringing together some wins over the last seven rounds if they are to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2005.
But heading into Saturday night's crucial encounter with Penrith at CUA Stadium, Sheens dismissed it as a must-win game.
"How many games you win and how many games we need to win, time will tell," he explained on Thursday.
"The main thing is to play well because you've got to play well to give yourself a chance to win at least every second game or two out of every three."
"You've got to try and stay consistent for seven weeks otherwise you are no chance even if you make the play-offs."
"(Beating Penrith) is not going to guarantee us a semi-final (spot). If we lose it doesn't mean we won't make it."
"The last game of the season might be one of those (must-win) games but seven games out you can't start otherwise you put too much pressure on yourself and the team."
"You don't want them panicking every time they drop a ball because the coach has said 'you've got to win this game no matter what.'"
"I never use those terms (except) maybe in a grand final."
"You adopt a 'play well' attitude. If everyone plays well the result will look after itself."
Tigers half-back Robbie Farah admitted he had sneaked a look at the competition table to see where his side stood, but agreed it was far too early for panic.
"You try not to look at it (the table) but it's hard not to - you have a peep - but we've got no control over the other results," Farah said.
"The only thing we've got control over is winning our remaining seven games."
"If we can do that we'll be in the semis not matter what."
The Tigers broke a four-game losing streak in upending Souths last weekend and can leapfrog the Panthers with victory at CUA Stadium.
They again look like being without inspirational skipper Brett Hodgson, who continues to be troubled by a calf injury.
"He's in some doubt. We've got another session tomorrow (Friday) so we'll give him until then," Sheens said of Hodgson.
"It's getting progressively better but whether or not he'll be ready in time for Saturday is hard to say."
"He's not as young as he used to be - recuperating is a little tougher - so at this stage we're planning not to use him but he could be a late inclusion."
The Tigers are one point outside the top eight and must start stringing together some wins over the last seven rounds if they are to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2005.
But heading into Saturday night's crucial encounter with Penrith at CUA Stadium, Sheens dismissed it as a must-win game.
"How many games you win and how many games we need to win, time will tell," he explained on Thursday.
"The main thing is to play well because you've got to play well to give yourself a chance to win at least every second game or two out of every three."
"You've got to try and stay consistent for seven weeks otherwise you are no chance even if you make the play-offs."
"(Beating Penrith) is not going to guarantee us a semi-final (spot). If we lose it doesn't mean we won't make it."
"The last game of the season might be one of those (must-win) games but seven games out you can't start otherwise you put too much pressure on yourself and the team."
"You don't want them panicking every time they drop a ball because the coach has said 'you've got to win this game no matter what.'"
"I never use those terms (except) maybe in a grand final."
"You adopt a 'play well' attitude. If everyone plays well the result will look after itself."
Tigers half-back Robbie Farah admitted he had sneaked a look at the competition table to see where his side stood, but agreed it was far too early for panic.
"You try not to look at it (the table) but it's hard not to - you have a peep - but we've got no control over the other results," Farah said.
"The only thing we've got control over is winning our remaining seven games."
"If we can do that we'll be in the semis not matter what."
The Tigers broke a four-game losing streak in upending Souths last weekend and can leapfrog the Panthers with victory at CUA Stadium.
They again look like being without inspirational skipper Brett Hodgson, who continues to be troubled by a calf injury.
"He's in some doubt. We've got another session tomorrow (Friday) so we'll give him until then," Sheens said of Hodgson.
"It's getting progressively better but whether or not he'll be ready in time for Saturday is hard to say."
"He's not as young as he used to be - recuperating is a little tougher - so at this stage we're planning not to use him but he could be a late inclusion."
