Barrow AFC boss Rob Kelly has demanded total focus on the job in hand today – and not to allow thoughts to drift to survival.

Although the Bluebirds could seal safety today, Kelly said that can only be achieved with maximum attention paid to AFC’s clash with Tranmere (Prenton Park, 3pm).

While Barrow’s EFL status could also be secured with the help of results involving bottom two sides Southend and Grimsby, Kelly said it is important he and his team do not allow their minds to wander from this afternoon’s 90-minute job.

He said: “All I focus on is the next thing I can affect, which is Tranmere.

“I don’t, and the staff won’t, start looking at other things.

“We didn’t at the start of this set a points total – we were aware of where we were and who was around us, but we said let’s concentrate on ourselves, let’s get as many points as we possibly can, and if we get enough we’ll be in the Football League come May.”

Victory against the play-off chasing Wirral side can make safety effectively guaranteed, while a better result than those gained by either of the bottom two will also ensure Barrow remain in League Two.

Southend face Leyton Orient while Grimsby go to Oldham.

Barrow’s challenge comes against Keith Hill’s promotion-chasers who sit fifth in the table but have only won one of their last eight games. Kelly says today’s hosts are a tough proposition but backs his side to make the most of the occasion.

He said: “They’ve got good players, they play slightly different ways, and Keith’s a very experienced coach.

“We know and will be respectful of all those things. But we’ll go about our business. We’ve done our homework, I’ve spent time with the staff looking at what they do well and where we can hurt them.

“They’re up around the top five or six for a reason but we’ve gone to other places and had good performances and results, and that’s what we’re looking to do at Tranmere. We’re aware of them but we do what we do, and try and impose what we do on the game to get the result.”

Kelly could have Josh Kay back in the reckoning today, while Tom Davies is being monitored after missing out on Tuesday’s defeat to Port Vale.

The caretaker boss says his players should be enthused by the prospect of getting the survival job done after a long and hard first campaign back in the Football League.

He added: “We don’t rely on anybody else, on Tranmere having a bad day or them being without a couple of players.

“Whatever team they put out we’ll go and compete with them and try and beat them.

“Whatever XI they put out we’ll be aware of them but it’s our job to try and beat them.

“It’s in our hands. I said to our players that this is a position you should want to be in and it should excite, because it’s down to us – players, staff, it’s down to us.”