Shane Duffy is “quietly confident” Albion can clinch promotion.

But the crocked central defender has warned the matches they have left at the Amex will be much tougher than they look on paper.

Third-bottom Blackburn, Duffy’s old club, visit on Saturday, followed three days later by 18th-placed Birmingham.

Albion also have to entertain next-to-bottom Wigan and Bristol City (19th) at the end of next month in their remaining eight games by which time Duffy could be back from a fractured metatarsal.

The Irishman, on target in Albion’s 3-2 win at Blackburn in December, said: “Nothing changes too much. It’s an exciting time now. These are the vital games, ones you want to be involved in.

“The lads are up for it. We are quietly confident we can do it.

“It’s always all right on paper but they are never like that in this league. You can never take any game lightly and in a way they are probably tougher games than the top four or five because you naturally get yourself up for those games, being in the limelight playing against Newcastle, Reading and Huddersfield.

“But these are worth the same three points against a Blackburn or a Birmingham. That’s the way we’ve got to think.”

Albion are a point behind leaders Newcastle and six ahead of the chasing pack led by Huddersfield, who have a game in hand.

“It’s exciting for the league,” Duffy said. “You thrive off it, the lads are anyway. You can’t let go. If you lose you know Huddersfield are going to be behind you.

“That’s why the league is so good and entertaining. For our sake it’s one game at a time.”