AARON Collins refuses to be downbeat about facing the play-offs with Wanderers.

Though it now looks certain that Ian Evatt’s side will finish third behind Derby County and Portsmouth, the Welshman says his primary objective - playing Championship football – remains available.

The promise of promotion was one of the main reasons he agreed to move from Bristol Rovers in the January window, and though it may not arrive in the way many at the Toughsheet Stadium had hoped, he remains optimistic that the club can attack the play-offs in good form.

Wanderers go to Peterborough United on the final weekend still harbouring a wafer-thin hope of leapfrogging Derby. For that unlikely scenario to unfold the Rams would have to lose at home to a Carlisle United side already relegated from the division AND Bolton record a comfortable win against fourth-placed Posh.

Collins sees no reason looking at the negatives whilst an opportunity still exists.

“We have to believe in ourselves – look at where we are after 45 games,” he told The Bolton News. “We were inches away from automatic promotion, so every win now takes us that step closer, even if it doesn’t happen Saturday.

“If we keep winning, we get promotion at Wembley, that’s the way we have to look at it now.”

Wanderers’ fans have taken the £750,000 striker to their hearts since he signed in early February, and with eight goals in his last 11 games, he has returned to the sort of form that saw him voted the best player in the division last season.

His name is also popping up in a new terrace anthem at the Toughsheet, something which brings an instant smile to his face.

He said: “It is a good feeling – I had my girlfriend, my family in the stand (on Saturday), and they could hear it too.

“When you have got 22,000 people in the stadium singing your song you can’t ask for much more. It’s the reason I came here, perform for a big crowd and to go and get promoted and play in the Championship next season.

“It is a good feeling personally as well as being proud because your mum, your dad, your girlfriend and family are there listening to it as well.”