Jon Stead says is he ready for what has been the most "mentally draining" season of his carer to end, but not before Notts County have guaranteed their Football League status for next season.
The ex-Huddersfield Town striker is adamant his teammates have always kept faith that they can upset the odds and guide Notts to League Two survival, despite being written off as a side doomed to non-league.
The Magpies will play host to mid-table Northampton Town, managed by ex-Notts boss Keith Curle, on Saturday as they aim to continue their charge towards a "great escape".
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"This season has been the most mentally draining season I have ever been involved with in football," said Stead.
"If I am honest, I am ready for it to end. I am ready to get the result we want come the end of the season and I am ready to relax on that a little bit and then take a good break, because it has been tough."
"I am not asking for the violins to come out, because I know what real jobs are like as well, but it has been frustrating," he continued.
Victory for Notts on Saturday could see them climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since November, depending on how rivals Yeovil Town and Macclesfield fare.
However, should Neal Ardley's side fail to build on last weekend's rampant 3-0 win over Stevenage, Stead is fully expectant that they will be written off as doomed once again.
"It has felt like this for the last four years, but we have ups and downs and we try and keep it as level as we can, obviously," he said. "But I think if we lose, everyone says we are going down and if we win, we have a chance.
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"We have always maintained that we have 100 percent belief that we can do what is needed to keep this club in the division.
"If we lose on Saturday (people will say) we will be dead certs to go down again and we will be written off, I'm sure.
"We have to just keep a level mind and keep doing what we believe is going to keep us in the league, and we will do our best on Saturday."
