DARRAGH Lenihan believes Rovers are well placed to achieve their promotion aim heading in to the final nine games of the season.

They remain five points clear of Wigan - who beat Bradford in midweek to climb to second - and Shrewsbury at the top of League One.

The chasing duo have games in hand but Rovers will end the weekend, and complete a month at the top of the table, no matter what their result at Gillingham tomorrow.

But it is three points Tony Mowbray’s side are targeting at the Priestfield Stadium, with Lenihan looking to continue the momentum which has seen them take 14 points out of a possible 18 since defeat at Plymouth last month.

He said: “Everyone in the dressing room is motivated, we know what the end goal is this season and are all pushing towards that.

“We’re in a strong position now, we need to keep it going and keep the momentum up.

“We need to be solid as a team and I’m sure the forward players will score goals, it’s about us keeping it tight.”

Lenihan is one of a number of players in the Rovers squad to have played at that Championship level, something he is desperate to get back to.

And the Irishman says first or second place doesn’t matter, so long as they are in the automatic promotion slots come May 5.

“We need to get promoted, that’s the main thing for the club, whether it’s first or second,” he added.

“The play-offs are a lottery, I don’t think any club would want that but if we get promoted then we take it from there what position we’d want to finish.”

Lenihan turns 24 today and is looking to mark his birthday weekend with three points as well as securing a spot in the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next week’s friendly in Turkey.

He was named in the provisional 30-man party which will be trimmed down to 25 after this weekend’s round of matches.

But Rovers is his main focus and he’s keen to avoid any slip-ups during the run-in.

“The position we’re in the league everyone wants to beat us,” he added. “But it’s up to us, we just have to take care of ourselves and not worry about anyone else.

“The manager has been very good about that, as we players we know there are nine games to go and we take it as it comes and Gillingham is the next big one.”

Rovers have a weekend off after the Gillingham game, with next Saturday’s scheduled trip to Doncaster postponed because of international call-ups.

Mowbray’s men end March with a televised clash against Bradford City at Ewood Park before embarking on a busy April. But Lenihan is focussed on the club’s one game at a time mentality.

“I don’t think you can look past the next game otherwise you’d be in dangerous water,” the defender said.

“We’re not looking ahead, we’re taking each game as if it is a cup final.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game (at Gillingham), they have some good players and are doing well recently, they beat Portsmouth 3-1 at the weekend.

“So we know that we’re going to have to give our all.”