WANDERERS boss Paul Lambert says he would much rather be in his position than Rochdale's ahead of the meeting between the two teams at Spotland tomorrow.

Blues in sixth have four more points than eighth-placed Dale - but Keith Hill's side have three games and a potential nine points in hand.

Lambert said: "I'd sooner be in our position than theirs. I'd always much rather have the points."

Lambert believes the promotion race will go down to the wire with his own team sitting five points off automatic promotion and just four points above missing out on the play-offs all together.

He said: "Even the teams in second and third place aren't guaranteed to get out of this league this year, not by a long shot. Teams are dropping points here and winning them there and every team will think they're still in it."

And he's backed his side's big-game experience to see them through.

Neil Lennon, Tommy Doherty and Gary Holt have all played international football, while David McCracken and John Sutton have played top-flight football in Scotland while Stefan Oakes and Martin Bullock have Premiership experience.

In addition, Scott McGleish, Craig Woodman and Sam Stockley have had experience of the play-offs with other clubs while Sergio Torres and Russell Martin got big-match experience in Wanderers' run to the Carling Cup semi-final last season.

Lambert reckons his men will need 80-plus points to secure an automatic berth this season.

He said: "A lot of our players have played in big games before and that will help us in the run-in."

Wanderers have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip north for a revenge mission, having been beaten 1-0 by Keith Hill's Rochdale just over a month ago at Adams Park.

Lambert said: "What happened at home is fresh in our memories. They came down here and beat us and on the day they deserved to.

"We didn't play well but they still needed a penalty to beat us and now it is our turn to go up their and try and turn it round."

With Lambert targeting more than 80 points, he will set his team up in pursuit of a victory rather than a draw.

"He said: "A draw wouldn't be the worst result but we will go and try and win it. Their home form isn't promotion form but their away form is.

"It is a game that should suit us because the onus is on them."