CHERRIES star Philip Billing insisted energy around play-off games was “very different” and added: “I'm so confident that we can go all the way.”

The Denmark international has come alive in the number 10 role under Jonathan Woodgate during the latter stages of the season.

Billing scored eight times and registered four assists in 34 Championship appearances this campaign, helping the Dorset club to a sixth-placed finish. Seven of his goals came under Woodgate.

Cherries have lost their past three contests heading into Monday’s semi-final first leg against Brentford at Vitality Stadium.

But 24-year-old Billing insists that previous run of form will not matter when they face up against Thomas Frank’s Bees.

He told Sky Sports: "I think a good run helps you but I don't think it matters too much as the play-offs are different.

“It's still a game of football but the energy around the games is very different.

"A team that has had a bad run going into the play-offs will still know there's a chance to reach the Premier League if they just win their next games.

“All the teams are going to be up for it, I'm sure, so that's why it's going to be exciting to see.

"Going into the season, the goal was to get promotion. If you look at our squad, it's very talented and probably still a Premier League squad.

“With that comes pressure and people expect you to win, so when we hit a bit of bad form, you could feel that.

"We have picked it up now and going into the play-offs, I'm so confident that we can go all the way, without being too confident, but looking at how we have been playing and how I know we can play.

“I feel like, when we play like that, we are the best team in the Championship."

While not being able to take part due to injury, Billing was part of the Huddersfield Town team who were promoted via the play-offs under David Wagner in 2017.

Reflecting on that time, he added: "I really enjoyed it. I wasn't involved as I had done my MCL literally just before the play-offs started, but I remember the energy and how I just enjoyed being around the team.

"You could feel how big the games were and, as a player, that's what you want.

“You want big games as they are the chance to show everyone what you can do.”