Toumani Diagouraga said the potential rewards are massive as Brentford enter the final seven matches of the Sky Bet Championship season just a point outside the top six.
The Bees have been in and around the promotion mix since November and go into the last seven games of the season, which begins with a trip to Fulham next Friday, with a real chance of achieving back to back promotions.
Toumani was part of the Brentford squad that won promotion from Sky Bet League One last season but admits that the reward of Premier League football would be far greater than any reward in his career so far.
Speaking to Bees Player Toumani said the squad’s only focus is Friday’s local derby against Fulham but they are aware of the potential rewards that could come at the end of the season.
“We go on the break now and when we come back the whole focus will be on Fulham and trying to get the three points,” said Toumani.
“It is a big game for the fans, everyone knows that, and it is a big game for us in terms of where we want to go.
“Hopefully we can get a good result and everyone will go home happy.
“We have been confident all season so there is no reason why we can’t do it.
“The reward is massive.
“With seven games to go it is almost the last hurdle really.
“We have to play our hearts out and give it all we have got for seven games and see where that leaves us.”
The Bees go into the match at Craven Cottage having picked up four points from their last three matches.
Defeat at home to Cardiff City was followed up by victory away at Blackburn Rovers and then a draw at Griffin Park against Millwall.
Toumani admitted that the squad would have liked more points from their two home games against Cardiff and Millwall but believes that over the course of a season there are always results that go for you and those that go against you.
Toumani believes the mood is good within the group, helped by the two late goals on Saturday that secured a share of the spoils at home to Millwall.
“The mood in the group is always good,” said Toumani.
“You always have to try and look at the positives and not the negatives.
“The positive from Millwall on Saturday is that we got a point.
“With five minutes to go we were losing the game and we ended up getting a point.
“At the end of the season that might be a big point.
“We didn’t find our best in the three games last week but it is a 46 game season and you are going to have moments like this.
“We would have taken this in August.
“We are still in a good position; we are only one point off the play-offs.
“It is very tight up there and with seven games left everything is up for grabs.
“This is the biggest time in my career coming up because the rewards are a lot greater than any other rewards.
“If we do well we could end up in the Premier League.
“If you look at the Cardiff City game and the Millwall game we could be higher but then in November we beat big teams like Nottingham Forest and Derby County which people didn’t expect us to do.
“You win some and you lose some but we are in a good position and we just have to kick on after the international break.”
Toumani and the rest of the Brentford squad are currently in the midst of the international break and a well-earned rest after a run of six matches in 21 days.
As normal during an international break The Bees trained on Monday and Tuesday before being given a few days off.
Toumani said the sessions on Monday and Tuesday were high-intensity tough sessions and now he is looking forward to some time away.
“It has been very hard work the last couple of days but it is worth it,” said Toumani.
“We have been coming in all season, working hard and then getting days off.
“We come back in again and get ready for the next game.
“You try to switch off completely from football.
“It is not easy but you need to try and forget about football and just concentrate on other stuff.”