JACK Smith and the play-offs are total strangers and the 23-year-old has no desire to get acquainted after recalling Town's last lottery' heartbreak.

Saturday's defeat at Grimsby dropped Paul Sturrock's men into fifth spot but the defender is in no mood to stay there.

Three points now separate Town from the automatic promotion slots and Smith is anxious to regain a position above the dotted line as quickly as possible.

His time at Watford saw more flirtations with relegation than promotion and he has yet to experience the drama that comes with trying to earn promotion the hard way.

And while footballers are always looking to enjoy a big day out and play in big games, Smith is rather more interested in wrapping up matters by May 5.

Saturday's slip up at Blundell Park was not terminal to Town's hopes but Smith, pictured, knows that the play-offs are not so forgiving.

He said: "We all want to go straight up because anything can happen in the play-offs."

And Smith hopes the burning desire to avoid the play-offs can act as a spur to drive the players on to a top three finish.

Smith wasn't around when Town last tried their promotion luck through the format first introduced 20 years ago, but remembers the unfortunate outcome.

He said: "Before I came to Swindon you had a time in the play-offs where you probably should have beaten Brighton by all accounts, only to lose on penalties.

"That would the worst thing.

"I've never been in the play-offs before myself but people who have just say it's a lottery where anything can happen.

"If you have one bad game away from home, like we've had recently, you could lose 3-0 and it's all over, your season's finished. We don't want that."

  • Town's annual golf day takes place at The Manor House, Castle Combe, on Monday April 16. Further details on 01793 333714.