THE hunger and belief are back in the Barrow AFC squad as they enter six games which will determine their National League play-off destiny.

Winger Lindon Meikle – who returned from loan at Southport earlier this month at the start of a four-game unbeaten run – can see the drive running through his team-mates as they push for a top-five finish.

AFC head to Maidstone United tomorrow looking for a third successive win, and three points which could lift them into the play-off spots (3pm kick-off).

And Meikle can see the Bluebirds have returned to their best at the most important time in the season.

He said: “We had that little dip and we dropped out of the play-offs, and for a lot of the players it was a sucker punch. Now, especially after Tuesday night (the 2-1 win at Chester), it’s back – that little bit of hunger and belief.

“Looking at our run of games and those around us, I think we’ve got the best run-in. Other teams around us will be fearing us again now as well. A lot of the teams will have looked and thought ‘Barrow have gone now’ a couple of weeks ago, but now we’ve got it back. It’s all good going forward.”

Meikle came back into the Barrow team for the 2-1 triumph against Dagenham and Redbridge two weeks ago.

His return from four weeks at National League rivals Southport came with fellow winger Jordan Williams suspended, but he has kept his place even with Williams back in the fold.

During his spell at Southport, he was in the side beaten 4-2 at Maidstone, with in-form Jamar Loza netting twice.

He knows it will not be easy to take the three points this weekend, but is also aware of how close AFC are to forcing their way into the play-off places.

“It’s just one goal now that’s keeping us out of the play-offs – a win by two goals on Tuesday night and we would have been in,” said Meikle. “It’s so close.

“We’ve got to keep it going. We’ve got a winnable game on Saturday – but I played down there for Southport and they battered us, so I know it’s going to be tough. We’re a different team to Southport, though.”

With regard to his own efforts, Meikle feels he has shown his adaptability since returning to the Barrow side.

In the four games since his comeback, he has found himself having to occasionally play more defensively or centrally, but he is happy to do so as part of the overall push for the play-offs.

“I’m still getting there, getting back into the full swing of things,” said the former Mansfield Town and York City man. “I know it’s late on in the season, but I’m working hard.

“At this point in the season, it’s not about any individual thing, it’s about putting in the work for the team. I don’t sacrificing myself in some games where I’m coming in more narrow to help the centre midfield, or helping out the left-back, like on Tuesday night, when we had to fill in for Nick (Anderton, the suspended full-back). I’ll sacrifice myself a bit just to help out and to get the result to try to get in the play-offs.

“On Tuesday night, although I was on the left wing, I was playing a bit more narrow just to help out, because they had a spare man in there. It was a more defensive role.

“When I can get hold of the ball up there, I just do what I can as and when. It’s just getting on with your job – you have to do that in some games.

“There might be a game where I am able to be a big outlet out wide and play a more offensive role. Overall, you just adapt to how the game goes and help get the three points.”