Garry Hill believes Ebbsfleet need to win eight of their last 12 games to make the National League play-offs.

Fleet are four points outside the top seven ahead of Saturday’s long trip to Barrow, although some of the sides above them have games in hand.

It’s not an impossible gap to close but they’ll need to finish this season in a similar vein to last to give themselves a chance.

Hill said: “I think we’ve got to win eight. If you don’t get in the play-offs with 75 points you’ve given it a good go.

“Don’t forget, three months ago we were talking about other worries at the other end of the table.

“The boys have been very consistent for us since we’ve been here, you can’t ask them to give us any more.

“We’re averaging just under two points a game. We’ve taken 28 points out of 45 in the 15 league games since we’ve been here so it’s a good return.

“I believe in anything. When there’s points on offer, we’ve got to all believe and we are consistent, which is a good thing, in respect of the work rate and the commitment.”

Ebbsfleet, already missing Dave Winfield (injured) and Bagasan Graham (suspended), lost another player in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Hartlepool.

Cody McDonald looked to have damaged his right knee chasing a long ball forward and Hill fears the striker could be out for a while.

He said: “We’re working with very small numbers and you’re hoping you don’t get any injuries but we’ve lost Cody McDonald – to what extent we don’t know yet. He’s going to have a scan.

“It’s very hard to fetch players in with the structure where we are.

“It’s no secret that on the defensive side we’re very thin. When you think we’ve only had four defenders for so long now, you’re really hoping that no one goes down with an injury or a suspension.

“The right players aren’t out there or aren’t available. We did have one coming in but he had a calf strain and that deal went dead.

“You can’t do much about that, you just get on with it. You’ve got to be positive all the time.”

Barrow are one place and six points below Ebbsfleet with a game in hand.

Hill said: “We know it’ll be tough up there. They’re a very good footballing side but our away form overall has been quite encouraging so we look forward to the long journey.

“We’re on another little run (two matches unbeaten) and all we can do is approach every game positively.

“We’ve got some good games still to play and other teams have got to play each other so we’ll see where it takes us. I think 75 points is our number.”