ASSISTANT manager Andy Porter is confident that Braintree Town’s energy levels will be fully loaded again when they host Gloucester City in a make-or-break Vanarama National League South final game at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium on Saturday.

The Iron head into their last game of the campaign knowing that they have to at least match what St Albans City do at Bath City on the final day to seal their place in the top-seven play-off spots.

They stayed ahead of St Albans thanks to a 0-0 draw against Oxford City in midweek and although it wasn’t the win they wanted it could prove to be a valuable point.

Porter, though, is looking to see more energy from the Iron players as he felt they were jaded against Oxford following their long trip to Truro City last weekend - that Braintree won 2-1 - and hopes the experience of himself and manager Brad Quinton can help guide the players to success.

“The work rate will need to be stepped up against Gloucester,” said Porter.

“We did look a little bit jaded after the weekend and the long trip to Truro.

“It was a hot day down there as well as the distance we had to travel and that took it out of the boys so energy levels were low.

“We started off well against Oxford, but we then stepped off a little bit and we need to be fully loaded and energetic from the start on Saturday.

“I’m sure we can get the job done, though.

“We have some great characters in the dressing room and I’m sure we will be able to handle it, but us as a management team will look to take the pressure off them as well.

“Brad and I have been in this situation before in a Conference South play-off final so we have been there before and we know what it takes.

“We will look after the boys in training on Thursday and we’ll look forward to it on Saturday.

“It’s in our control and that’s what we wanted.

“We were disappointed only to get a point on Tuesday but it is in our hands and we know what we have to do now on Saturday.

“We know a victory and three points will take us into the play-offs.

“At the start of the season we had a fresh squad and there have been ups and downs through season with players leaving and some others coming in, so to get in the play-offs would be a really good achievement.

“You can see that this league has been wide open at the top and everyone has been beating everyone else, so it will be a great achievement if we can get it over the line. I’m confident we can do it and we’re looking forward it.”