WHILE they may be surprising observers with their surge into the National League play-off places, striker Richie Bennett says Barrow AFC's early-season form is no shock to the players themselves.

The Bluebirds travel to Woking tomorrow looking to cement their place among the top-five and extend an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions (3pm kick-off).

Barrow have matched the best sides in the division so far this term – suffering just two defeats from 15 matches – and have been seen as one of the surprise packages in the division.

But Bennett, AFC's top-scorer with seven goals in league and cup, is taking it all in his stride and is confident the team have yet to hit the heights they are capable of.

“I think we can still get better – we can always get better – but I think we're getting a bit more relaxed, and I think there is a belief in the team that we can go on and do better,” said the towering centre forward, who has established a partnership with Byron Harrison up front over the past seven weeks.

“We might be exceeding the expectations of the outsiders looking in, but I think within the group we have a lot more to give and we have high expectations both individually and collectively as a team.

“We're on the way to being where we want to be – and that's in the play-offs as a minimum.

“We don't really pay much attention to what other teams think about us. It's about ourselves, our expectations and our mind-set. That's what we stay focused on.

“Personally, I don't really look at the table. I don't think it's relevant at the minute because it's still early in the season. We'll just concentrate on the next game we have in front of ourselves and take it from there.”

Tomorrow's trip to Woking sees Barrow take on a side just one place above the relegation zone and with only three wins from 15 games so far in the league.

But they triumphed in the FA Cup against Torquay United in midweek and Bennett knows he and his team-mates need to prepare for this match as they have for those against sides near the summit.

“There is no problem going into the big games, because we're all switched on and we all know what we need to do,” he said. “It's about going into every game with that mind-set – whether you are playing a team at the top of the league or the bottom of the league.

“You need to go into every game with the mind-set of having to beat what is in front of you.

“Woking will be dangerous. Every team you play in this league, whether they are at the top of the league, in mid-table, or at the bottom, you've got to go there and get a result.

“You can't think of it as an easier game or a harder game, every game is going to be tough in this league.”

Bennett is hopeful AFC can keep up their unbeaten run this weekend, with further tough games against Wrexham and Eastleigh to come next week.

The momentum continues to build, and the striker wants it to stay that way, while acknowledging the Bluebirds cannot remain unbeaten forever.

“We're on a great run and all the lads are on the up at the minute,” he added. “You want to keep that going as long as you possibly can.

“We know the run is not going to carry on until the end of the season, but it's that mind-set of, no matter who we are playing or what we are doing, we will keep doing out best. We'll keep our mentality the same no matter who we are playing, and keep this run going for as long as we can.”