NATHAN CLARKE is confident Town can rise to the challenge of staying in the promotion shake-up.
The 21-year-old defender is one of the most talented players to come through the ranks at Town in recent memory and he's never enjoyed himself more at the club than right now.
A lifelong Town fan, Clarke is committed to helping Peter Jackson guide the club into the Championship and he's also hoping to add some Carling Cup glory when Town tackle Premier League Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday (8.00).
The second round tie comes with confidence soaring in the Galpharm camp and Clarke explained:
"I'm loving it at the moment and so is everyone else - this is a great place to be around right now.
"Everyone is enthusiastic about how we are playing and the season ahead, we are up near the top and we know the challenge now is to stay there.
"All the other teams we come up against will be doing their level best to beat us, so every 90 minutes presents a different and difficult challenge - but I know we can handle it.
"We really want to go up, the gaffer has said no-one should beat us and he's spot on. He has so much faith in us and it breeds confidence among all the squad.
"He told us before the Oldham game that the measure of a good side was how they responded to a defeat and we showed everyone what we can do.
"Obviously we spoke about what happened against Scunthorpe both as a team and as a set of individuals and we tried to put that behind us. Hopefully, against Oldham, we showed that we have."
Clarke admits he knows none of the Blackburn players apart from seeing them on TV, but he's hoping Town can capture the headlines like they did when winning superbly in front of a big travelling contingent of fans up at Sunderland a couple of seasons ago.
"Everyone remembers that great occasion, it sticks in the mind, and even though Blackburn are doing okay in the Premiership hopefully we can go there and cause an upset," said Clarke.
"All the lads are on a high from our League start and, even though we know it's a big game against top-flight opposition, we've got all the confidence we need to go there and try and win it.
"We will definitely enjoy it and the chance to test ourselves against them.
"We are away from home, the fans will get right behind us, we are happy about the way we are playing and we will run out at Ewood Park aiming to progress in the competition."
Those words sum up the spirit in Town's camp just now and while Martin McIntosh and David Mirfin remain on the injury list, Clarke feels the squad is strong and getting stronger.
"We are getting people back from injury like Andy Booth, Mark Hudson and Adnan Ahmed and that's bound to make us much stronger," said Clarke.
"The squad is good, we all get on well together and this really is the club to be at because every person is on a high.
"In match terms, we all know that what the gaffer has said is spot on - if we keep clean sheets we will win matches because the boys up front will always score goals.
"We seem to have so many options in attack that it's bound to be difficult for the teams that we face.
"Danny Schofield, for instance, has come into his own. He got left out early on but, since he's come back, he's been unbelievable and the lads are so confident in giving him the ball.
"Danny will always come up with a bit of magic and it's the same on the right wing where Chris Brandon is so quick and lively.
"Brando must be horrible to mark. I'm glad I'm not having to do it!"
One of the most pleasing aspects of the season so far for Clarke is that he's been able to play alongside his 17-year-old brother Tom at the heart of defence.
Clarke went to watch his sibling make an England Under 19 debut against Belgium 10 days ago and, not only did he play well in a 45-minute run-out, but he scored the first goal in a 3-2 win.
"He's been a bit of a nightmare since then, but he really did do well," said Clarke.
"I don't think he knew he was playing until a few hours before the game, so it was great for him and to score was even better.
"He'd worked on the move from a corner in training, so full credit to him for producing it in the game and I was delighted for him."
Clarke would like a few more goals himself in Town colours - his last came at Torquay 19 months ago!
"You do see a lot of defenders getting on scoresheets and I do go up for corners and get one or two chances, but they don't seem to be flying in the back of the net for me," he explained.
"The gaffer has stressed, though, that my main job as a defender is to stop the other team from scoring and he's desperately keen for us to start keeping more clean sheets.
"Right now I'm just enjoying myself and enjoying playing games.
"I've had my injuries from the past, as everyone knows, but I'm feeling fine at the moment, everything is going well following on from last season.
"And it's brilliant to be having this run in the team with me alongside Tom and the centre of defence. I'm really enjoying it."
