It is the clearest indication yet of Mark McGhee's thought process as Albion prepare for the promotion run-in and two games in 72 hours at opposite ends of the country over Easter.

The manager has analysed in detail the remaining fixtures for Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City.

He has even worked out how many points he thinks they will get.

McGhee has not bothered to check the matches left for the teams immediately behind Albion. All his attention is focused at the moment on second place.

The equation is straightforward as far as McGhee is concerned, 84 points and the Seagulls will be back in Division One.

"Two games in three days is a big ask for anyone, but we are not particularly looking at the play-offs," he said.

"We are still looking at automatic promotion. We have always felt as if we had a chance of being in the shake-up.

"If we win our next six games we have still got a chance of second spot. It's a massive ask, but we are going to give it a shot."

There is certainly the potential for a maximum return over the holiday period.

Saturday's trek to LDV Vans Trophy winners Blackpool should hold no fears, despite Albion's modest away record.

It is hard to see Rushden and Diamonds putting a dent in the sequence of seven successive victories at Withdean next Monday.

McGhee would not swap Albion's run-in for that of Bristol City, where his playing career began more than 30 years ago.

If the team managed by former Albion captain Danny Wilson claim the runners-up place then they will have earned it.

The Seagulls' visit to Ashton Gate on April 24 follows a hat-trick of fixtures for City against other promotion contenders.

"Bristol City's run-in is not what you would choose," said McGhee. "We have got to play them, but that is a good thing.

"If we can beat them then we can maybe catch them. I would love to still have to play Queens Park Rangers for the same reason.

"I have got an awful lot of sympathy for Bristol City, but in the circumstances we are in at the moment that goes out of the window. I think there is still the potential that we will go there competing for the second spot.

"A lot of the teams at the top have got to play each other, so it is still all up for grabs."

Bristol's 4-1 win at Withdean in November was the only home defeat suffered by Albion under McGhee.

The Robins' tough programme could work to their advantage if they get the right results, not only accumulating points but depriving their main rivals in the process.

Brian Tinnion, City's veteran midfielder, said: "The good thing is we have already beaten those teams, so there is certainly nothing to fear. It's a difficult run-in, but sometimes those games are easier to get up for.

"The club is geared up for the First Division at least and it's up to us, it is in our hands. With the games we have got if we win them then we are going to be promoted."

QPR have been disrupted by the departure of Ian Holloway's assistant Kenny Jackett, who has taken charge at Swansea.

They possess plenty of experience in their squad, with the likes of Kevin Gallen, Tony Thorpe, Paul Furlong and Marc Bircham, and are still the logical choice to go up with Plymouth.

If Albion miss out, a second appearance beckons in the play-off lottery.

McGhee's target for that is 74 points, which they can surpass just by maintaining their impregnable home form.

Even Wrexham, as far down as 11th, are in with a shout. McGhee said: "Nobody can be discounted. We play Wrexham in our last game of the season and I think all the spots will go down to the last game."