READING FC players are refusing to tempt fate by discussing the Championship play-offs.

Fifth-placed Royals are on course for a top-six finish and hold a seven-point lead over Fulham in seventh having played an extra game.

But it appears there has been little talk of promotion in the Royals dressing room.

Boss Jaap Stam revealed: “We haven’t really spoken about what can happen at the end of the season, though everybody knows.

“Players know the importance of these big games coming up. We have experienced players and younger players and we know what is possible if we keep our position in the league.

“You don’t want to talk about these things too much, you need to focus on the next game.

“I don’t even like looking at teams around us and how they are doing, you just want to concentrate on your own team and squad.”

Stam also quipped: “Sometimes my wife tells me to look more into the future, but for me the important thing is where we are now.

“I don’t like looking two months ahead and start thinking it will be nice to be in the play-offs and what it might do for the fans, the staff, the players and the town.”

Reading were third in the Championship table only a few weeks ago and in touch with the top two teams, Newcastle and Brighton.

But Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls leaves Royals 11 points adrift of the automatic promotion places.

Stam’s men have also had their momentum checked after one win from their last five matches.

It means they must now beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Madejski Stadium this Saturday (3pm ko) to avoid suffering a third league loss in a row for the first time this season.

Stam admitted: “We need to get a result against Wolves, but we have never been in a position this season to say ‘this is a game we will win’. We haven’t reached that point in our development.”

Of Reading’s 12 remaining Championship games, six are away and six are home, two of which come in the next week with leaders Newcastle United also due to visit next Tuesday (8pm ko) along with nearly 4,000 travelling fans.

“They’ve been up there all season because of their quality,” stated Stam after Magpies reclaimed top spot from Brighton with a 2-1 win at the Amex on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a difficult game but I’m certain we can get a result against them.

“When you play these top sides everyone needs to be 100%. But Wolves is first and it’s a very important game.”

Stam also called on Royals supporters to roar their team on during the Championship run-in: “They need to be there to support the team during any situation,” he stressed.

“When you haven’t got a couple of results you want you need the fans to help the team out.

“You need them when you are ahead and the players need an extra boost because they are trying hard to win for them and entertain them.

“When you are down and things are not working out then you need them even more. They need to push you in the back to give you more confidence. Fans are so important to every team.”

Stam confirmed Deniss Rakels, Tiago Ilori Callum Harriott, Stephen Quinn, Sandro Weiser and Danzel Gravenberch remain sidelined with injury.