THREE points at Cambridge United this afternoon will enhance Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens’ belief that his side are capable of promotion from League Two next season.

Following three draws in their last three matches, Town’s play-off hopes for this season rest on securing four successive wins in their concluding fixtures against Cambridge, Crewe Alexandra, Cheltenham Town and Notts County, while also hoping several teams surrounding them in the table drop points themselves.

The unlikely nature of poaching a top-seven spot means Wellens now wants to reinforce his faith that the current squad is one capable of securing promotion if they benefit from an entire season together.

And with Cambridge – managed by Town legend Colin Calderwood – still not mathematically safe from relegation, the Town boss is keen to deliver a clinical performance at the Abbey Stadium.

“Cambridge are safe. I would say 43 points is the mark this year – and they’re on 45,” said Wellens.

“Colin has gone in at a tricky time and done a really good job and secured their safety with three or four games left, so congratulations to him.

“Hopefully we can give them a tough time, because we are a good footballing team. But if I were to put myself in his shoes, he would want to make sure he can get that extra point so he is 100 per cent certain of survival.

“We’ll try to go there and enjoy the game, but we also want to strengthen our beliefs that next season we can be a really good team.”

Calderwood – captain of the Town side who won promotion to the Premier League in 1993 – took charge of Cambridge in December amid their fight to avoid relegation from the Football League’s lowest tier.

Since the 54-year-old’s arrival, United have edged themselves eight points clear of relegation – winning seven of the 20 games since he was hired, while drawing four others.

Wellens added: “I’ve played against his teams when he was manager at Nottingham Forest. He’s got great experience behind him.

“I’m glad he’s back in the game now and doing a good job at Cambridge.

“Cambridge are one of few teams now that leave two men up front. When they do that and the ball turns over, they can be a threat.

“On the flip side to that, they can lose control of the midfield.

“In recent weeks, when we have gone two up front, we’ve been dominant in the game and looked like scoring.

“When we change the two strikers, we lose a bit of control in the game. We’ll be going there to try and control possession.”