CITY recruit Steve Davies has wasted no time in throwing down the play-off gauntlet to his new team-mates.

The former Derby and Blackpool striker admits he has some sharpening up to do compared with the rest of the squad as they begin the second week of pre-season.

But Phil Parkinson’s first capture of the summer is adamant about what the club are capable of in the coming campaign.

Davies said: “I think people have got every right to expect a play-off place this season. It will be a travesty if this club are not in the top six.”

The 27-year-old experienced play-off anguish with Sheffield United in May when his loan club fell at the semi-final stage to Swindon.

Davies, who scored in the freakish 5-5 second-leg at the County Ground, has already seen enough to suggest that City can match the Blades in another top-six pursuit.

“There are some very good players at Sheffield United from when I played there. But I don’t think there is any more in their squad than the one we’ve got here.

“It’s going to be another tight season when there could be a number of teams up there. I’m sure we’re going to be one of them.”

City finished four points behind Chesterfield in the final play-off spot last term, with the FA Cup heroics inevitably taking their toll on league results.

After just falling short, Davies insists they will be even more determined to make up the ground for a concerted tilt at promotion.

He added: “I’m good mates with Tony McMahon and he said that the place was buzzing last season.

“The cup run was obviously great and it will be brilliant if another one comes along this time.

“But the main aim has to be to get out of League One. That’s what we all want to achieve.

“I’ve got ambitions to play for the best teams and that hasn’t changed just because I’ve dropped down a division.

“It’s tough because you always want to play at the highest level but this club should be up there.

“It will be a perfect scenario if I can come down to League One and take Bradford back up. When you look at the players here and listen to the manager’s plans, then you know we’ve got a good chance.”

Season-ticket sales had passed the 17,500 mark when the cut-price deadline ran out last night. With online figures still being collated, the club believe they could pass 18,000 today.

Home crowds for City's first season in the Premiership in 1999-2000 averaged 18,030.