ADAM Smith insists Cherries would be "the favourite to go up" if they can secure a spot in the play-offs, and is desperate for fans to be there to witness it.

Cherries currently sit seventh in the Championship, but could return to the top six with victory over Coventry City at Vitality Stadium tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

The battle for a play-off berth remains in Cherries' hands, as they also have a game in hand on their nearest rivals, which is due to take place at Huddersfield on Tuesday.

And Smith, who won promotion from this division under Eddie Howe in the 2014-15 campaign, believes Jonathan Woodgate's crop are good enough to repeat the feat with seven games left to secure their spot in the top six.

Smith told the Daily Echo: "It’s do or die kind of thing isn’t it? If we’re not going to win the games, we’re not going to get play-offs.

"So we’ve got to focus on getting in the play-offs and I believe if we do get in the play-offs, we’re probably the favourite to go up, in my opinion."

Asked if he would still feel that way were Cherries to finish fifth or sixth, Smith added: "100 per cent, yeah. Because of the quality in the squad and the experience that we’ve got of playing at the highest level.

"I think that will help us and with mostly beating every team in the play-off positions at the moment, obviously we’ve got Brentford to play.

"So we’d be confident in definitely going up, but we need to obviously make sure we do get in the play-offs first."

Smith, 29, is one of the most experienced members of Cherries' squad, now more than seven years into his second spell at the club.

However, despite playing more than 300 games as a professional, nothing has prepared the defender for the type of season he has been faced with in this campaign.

Since March 2020, all-but three of Smith's matches with Cherries have been played behind-closed-doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The only occasions the crowds have been allowed in this season were in limited numbers for an away game at Middlesbrough before back-to-back home fixtures against Huddersfield and Wycombe.

Cherries were unbeaten in all three of those fixtures, and former Tottenham youngster Smith admits he has not been enjoying playing inside empty stadiums.

"It’s lack of fans. It’s boring," said Smith.

"Maybe I’m being too honest, but it’s been a long time with no fans now you know? It just sometimes feels like a training game. You need to try and find that extra motivation.

"But it’s just kind of grinding on I think everyone, having no fans and we do miss the fans a lot."

Asked who takes on the role of trying to lift the players, Smith said: "Mainly us the senior lads like me, Steve (Cook), Asmir (Begovic). We’ve been here a while now so we need to try and get the lads going and have a faster start to be honest.

"Obviously in games we have done that, but it’s difficult to do it every game and we need to try and do that every game now towards the end of the season.

"It’s just pumping each other up. Usually you get that from the crowd, as soon as you walk out you get it.

"It’s different these days now. You’ve got to pump each other up and you get out there and it’s dead quiet isn’t it? So it’s difficult, but it is what it is."

Discussing the challenge of the Championship as a whole, having spent five years in the Premier League, Smith said: "To be honest I don’t enjoy it. I don’t think any player does in this league.

"It’s just every game you’ve got to grind it out. It’s obviously difficult with no fans, the games sometimes are flat."

There does at least appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel, with the government's roadmap out of lockdown seeing fans return to sporting venues.

The next main test event will take place at Wembley next weekend, with 4,000 spectators permitted for the FA Cup semi-final between Leicester City and Southampton.

Asked about the prospect of fans returning for the play-offs, should Cherries get there, Smith said: "I hope so. You can’t take it the wrong way that we’re not motivated. I’m not saying that the lads are saying we’re not motivated, we are.

"You’ve just got to get that extra bit.

"If someone gets a good challenge in and the crowd gets behind you, it gives you adrenaline you know?

"You don’t really get that adrenaline rush as much.

"Obviously when you score or do something good, I’m just sick of it not having fans to be honest. Everyone is.

"I’m sure the fans are frustrated not coming to watch and watching online or whatnot.

"It just is what it is. It’s the world we live in at the moment. Hopefully we’ll be back to normal next season and in the Premier League."