GUISELEY boss Mark Bower says his side are in the play-offs on merit and they can go into tonight’s semi-final first leg with no fear.

The Lions ended the regular season with back to back defeats while opponents AFC Fylde finished as runners up and unbeaten in their last ten league fixtures.

Bower said, “All of the teams in the play-offs are good sides and I believe that any one of them could go up, that includes us. Boston went on a great run towards the end to finish third and one side always comes through to get in there on the back of a strong run.

“It was different for Fylde because they could easily have won the title even on the last day. I don’t think they will let the disappointment of losing out to Barrow affect them just as our two results against them in the season won’t come into it.”

Fylde finished with 15 points more than Guiseley and were just two behind The Bluebirds who are celebrating their promotion to what will be the newly titled Vanarama National.

Just as two points separated the top two clubs the same margin covered the three other teams in the end of season extras. The Lions were just one point behind Chorley and two adrift of Boston.

Bower’s men took a point from a goalless draw at Fylde and enjoyed a 3-1 victory over them at Nethermoor. Guiseley would settle for a repeat of that result ahead of the second leg at Kellamergh Park on Saturday.

The Lions boss added, “This is the fifth time for the club and the fourth time for me so its certainly familiar ground. The spirit is there and we are certainly determined to be the best and go up.

“The pain of four near misses should be a real spur to push people on. There is no greater incentive than the memory of that dressing room at Altrincham after that last-gasp defeat last year. We’re ready to go out and do our best now.”