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Forest challenge: Swindon Town boss Maurice Malpas

Maurice Malpas says Swindon Town face their biggest test of their play off credentials when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Robins are ninth, five points off the play-offs with two games in hand, following Tuesday's 3-0 win over Cheltenham.

They beat Forest 2-1 at the County Ground in Malpas' first game as manager last month, and the Scot knows a repeat performance would send a message to the rest of League One.

"It is a big challenge, a big test, and if we have any aspirations for the top six we have got to take something from the game against Forest," he said. "Fortunately they were my first game so the players know they can beat them but it depends on how we handle the occasion.

"If we can put in a performance like when they played at the County Ground, we are more than capable of taking something."

The 45-year-old has openly encouraged play off talk at the club and wants the players aware they can achieve their lofty ambitions.

"I said when I arrived that was the aim and it is also the players' aim," he said.

"It is a realistic goal and it remains the long term goal but to achieve it we have to keep picking up points every week."

As the Robins mount their charge for the play-offs Malpas has ruled out any impending arrivals on loan and is instead already concentrating on permanent Bosman signings in the summer.

"We are talking to one or two agents but not any players yet," he said.

"You have got to box clever because once you offer terms, the agent will go around the world looking for better ones."

There is also little outgoing action at the County Ground with Malpas looking to fix young midfielder Chris Allen up with a loan move.

"We are still trying to get a club for Chris because he needs a little bit more experience but the only player we have had enquiries for is Chris Blackburn," he said.

"Clubs have come in for him but he doesn't want to go to them."

9:58am Thursday 14th February 2008

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