JULIAN Rhodes hopes City can bash the bookies who have written them off as play-off outsiders.

The three other sides are all shorter odds than the Bantams – and semi-final opponents Millwall have been installed as narrow favourites.

Rhodes feels that should act as an extra incentive for Phil Parkinson's side as they head into Sunday's first leg against the Lions at Valley Parade.

City's joint-chairman said: "The bookies have decided that Millwall are the favourites to go up in the play-offs and because of that have made us the outsiders.

"It doesn't stop it being a little bit hurtful. It would be nice for the players to prove them wrong.

"Our form has been as good as any of those teams in the second half of the season and we are going into the play-offs full of belief."

Rhodes pinpoints City's change of fortunes to when they lost 3-1 at Burton at the beginning of February.

They were six points adrift of the play-offs in 11th at that time – and 14 short of Gillingham, who eventually finished the season 11 behind.

Rhodes said: "I think the turning point was the Burton away game. We went into that game with a bit of an eye on what they were doing. Phil decided after that to be a bit more direct and take the game more to the opposition.

"We felt we had nothing to lose and we haven't done a lot wrong, with 39 points from 18 games since then. It also coincided with Josh Cullen coming in. He has made a big difference."

The remaining tickets for the Millwall game are now on general sale and Rhodes anticipates another huge home atmosphere to rival last weekend's biggest league crowd for 14 years.

He said: "Sunday was brilliant with nearly 21,000 here. Whatever happens, it's been a good season and another one of progress.

"The players have given absolutely everything and there's a great belief and determination to get the job done."

City's fifth-placed finish in League One is their highest since dropping out of the Championship in 2004. It maintained their upward progress under Parkinson, who is now the fifth longest-serving manager in England.

Skipper Stephen Darby, one of the clutch of players he brought in during the summer of 2012 to revamp the club, insists Parkinson remains hungry to keep pushing City on.

"Like most of the players who have signed, it's a no-brainer once you've had a meeting with the gaffer and seen the ambition and passion he's got," said Darby.

"What the gaffer has done over the time he's been here is absolutely fantastic. It's not just him but the whole coaching staff – Steve Parkin, Nick Allamby and Lee Butler and the team.

"What they have achieved over the last four or five years has been brilliant. That's credit to the hard work they've put in but I'm sure they will say there is plenty more unfinished business as well.

"You want to keep progressing each year and it's important we can still take this club forward."