By Ben Kosky DAMIEN Delaney concedes the play-offs are now out of QPR s reach – but says there is no lack of motivation for the rest of the season. The Rangers left-back fears the team s failure to nail a top six position may prompt a fresh wave of recrui

By Ben Kosky

DAMIEN Delaney concedes the play-offs are now out of QPR's reach - but says there is no lack of motivation for the rest of the season.

The Rangers left-back fears the team's failure to nail a top six position may prompt a fresh wave of recruitment this summer, which would leave every player looking anxiously over his shoulder.

"With five games to go, it's too late for us," Delaney admitted. "We'd have to win them all and I'm not sure that'd be enough anyway.

"We'd have to go on an amazing run, which we're capable of, but we'd also need other teams to fall apart.

"I don't think it matters where we finish for the league table, but it does for us because next year's going to be a big year for the club - and if anyone in this team switches off, he'll be out of the door very quickly.

"Even if there might be nothing to play for in the league, you're still playing for your future and you always are, that's the way I look at it. We're an honest bunch of players here, whatever else you say about us, and we'll try our best until the end of the season.

"I don't think anyone could accuse us of not trying or not caring - we've tried hard all season, but we've come up a long way short. How many times have we drawn 0-0 and said we deserved something more?"

Even if the Rs were to glean maximum points for the rest of the season, they could only reach a total of 72 - unlikely to be enough for a play-off spot.

Burnley, who are Rangers' next opponents, need just six more points to get to 72, while Cardiff - prior to last night's home game with Derby - wanted eight from seven games to put themselves out of reach.

But Delaney and his team-mates have an extra incentive to take three points at Turf Moor on Saturday - the heartbreaking memory of their last-minute FA Cup replay defeat just three months ago.

Jay Rodriguez struck the Clarets' winner in the last minute of extra time to ensure that Rangers' horrendous run of eight years without an FA Cup win would stretch at least another season.

"That hurt an awful lot," recalled Delaney, who played in both ties against Burnley. "To get 119 minutes into a game and lose was devastating and we want to put that right.

"We've got two games next weekend and it doesn't matter where you are in the league, you want to be able to look in the mirror. You want to be able to walk off the pitch and look your team-mates in the eye."

After facing fifth-placed Burnley, Rangers host mid-table Sheffield Wednesday on Easter Monday (kick-off 3pm).

Midfielder Jordi Lopez, who missed the Palace match with a groin strain, should be available again this weekend and could replace Liam Miller in the starting line-up.