THOMAS SORENSEN has laid down the gauntlet to his team-mates and challenged them to finish the campaign with a flourish… and break into the top ten.
The Potters have once again defied the expectations of many throughout the course of the season by cementing themselves comfortably in mid-table - and currently sit twelve points clear of the relegation zone.
However, rather than letting the campaign diminish into obscurity over the remaining seven games, the Denmark international believes the Potters can go on to end the season on a real high note.
"Whilst we may look at ourselves and say we are in a comfortable position now, we have to make sure we keep focussed and keep on looking to improve," the Denmark international told stokecityfc.com.
"It would be a remarkable achievement to finish the season in the top half of the league table in just our second season. That is what we have to strive to achieve now.
He adds: "Neither the supporters or the players want to go into matches where there is nothing to play for, and whilst people may say we are mid-table and the season is over, we don't see it like that.
"If we go into games with that mentality then we could end up finishing the season disappointingly and then we go off for our break with our heads down and the supporters lose a little bit of their optimism. We have to ensure that doesn't happen here."
Iain Dowie brings his troops to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday desperate for maximum points as he strives to ensure a third successive term in the top flight for the Tigers.
And whilst they remain in the bottom three Sorensen insists they will now have their tails up after last Saturday's 2-0 success against Europa League quarter finalists Fulham.
"They were struggling a few weeks ago, but now they will have a fresh air of optimism, and that sometimes happens when you bring in a new manager," he says.
"It isn't always the case, but in this case it looks like it may work for them. It's obviously too early to say whether they will stay up because they have six or seven big games remaining.
"It is certainly in their own hands though because they have a decent run of games coming up. They will come here and give it a right go and put us under pressure. But we know what to expect and we know that if we can impose ourselves on them, then we can get the result we want."
