Peterborough United boss still hasn't given up hope of gatecrashing the play-off party, but securing survival is the first priority

But the first priority is to put beyond reasonable doubt any chance of relegation.

Posh are currently stuck in no-man’s land in League One. They are nine points from a play-off place with seven teams to overtake and just nine games remaining.

The 5-0 Tuesday night win at home to Rotherham United maintained an eight-point gap to the relegation zone. There are also seven teams between Posh and the bottom four.

Posh are likely to go into Saturday’s game at AFC Wimbledon with the same squad as midfielder Ben Woods and centre-back Tom Lees now set to return for the Good Friday game at Luton Town. Posh won for the first time this season without Lees on Tuesday.

Williams said: “We need to get to the point when relegation is beyond a reasonable doubt, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t try and gatecrash the play-offs. We would have to be incredible, but why can’t we be?

"Each game now obviously has a huge bearing on the league table, and having a full squad to choose from would help, but I was pleased with the performance and effort from Tuesday night and glad the fans could go home happy with what they saw and be able to look forward to the next game.

"Wimbledon will come a bit early for Ben and Tom, but I’m confident we will have players back for Luton. The only player I don’t expect to see this season is Rio Adebisi. I’m desperate to see Sam Hughes in action for the first time and I expect to get some minutes into him before the end of the season.”

Williams’ first League One game in charge of Posh was a 5-0 romp at home to Wimbledon in October. ‘The Dons’ were fifth at the time, but are now behind 13th-placed Posh on goal difference. Only five of the Posh players that started that game – Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Peter Kioso, Archie Collins and Kyrell Lisbie – are likely to start at Plough Lane.

Williams added: “We are putting a very different team out this time and that match feels like a long time ago. The scoreline didn’t really reflect the game. They are an excellent side who perhaps didn’t know quite how to prepare for us because we had a new manager. They will be prepared tomorrow though as they have a brilliant manager and some great togetherness.

"They are fierce competitors who have done brilliantly well this season. They will be looking forward to the game as much as we are.”

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony said in his ‘Hard Truth’ that full-back Carl Johnston won’t play again this season after a suffering a serious grade three tear in his calf at Orient last weekend.