Manager Neil Cugley has urged his players to embrace the challenge as Invicta look to nail down a place in the Bostik Premier play-offs.

The Folkestone boss felt his side were apprehensive in Monday’s 1-1 home draw with promotion rivals Margate and wants them to play with a bit more freedom in the remaining six games.

Invicta, in third, host seventh-placed Leiston on Saturday before a re-arranged trip to sixth-placed Staines on Thursday, April 12.

Their run-in also includes games against second-placed Dulwich Hamlet (home, April 21) and leaders Billericay (away, April 28) and Cugley says his squad should be relishing the big occasions.

Cugley, whose side missed the chance to go top on Monday, explained: “You get a good crowd in like we did on Monday and you want players to perform, unfortunately we didn’t.

“I was a bit disappointed because I know they can do better but I said to them afterwards they mustn’t get too nervy, they’ve got to enjoy the situation they’ve got themselves in because it’s all credit to them for getting them this far.

“I think suddenly on Monday they thought ‘Cor, we are up there’ and that showed a little bit especially in the first half.

“I’m a realist I don’t think we’re going to win it, or come second so you’re looking to get third or fourth and I do think we can beat anybody.

“We’ve got nothing to fear, we just go out, the teams that have spent the money they’re the ones under pressure, Billericay, Dulwich, Margate and the Leatherheads of the world, they’ve got to keep winning haven’t they?”

Cugley added: “I like the big games, I did as a player and I do as a manager, it’s just trying to get that over to the players sometimes, these are the big games that you’ve got to perform in because they’re great occasions."

Cugley feels two more wins should be enough to secure Invicta’s play-off spot and if they do make it the achievement will rank alongside anything else he has managed at the club.