Gary Johnson insists Bristol City should settle for nothing less than a top two finish in the Coca-Cola Championship this season.

Although the Robins are handily-placed in the play-off zone after a third of the campaign, their manager is challenging his players to set their sights even higher.

The outcome of the next two fixtures – away at much-improved Nottingham Forest and leaders West Bromwich Albion – could determine whether City have what it takes to challenge for automatic promotion.

Brsitol City travel to Forest on Saturday, then play at The Hawthorns on November 21 and complete a demanding month with a home game against Sheffield United.

Johnson said: "We have two very hard away games coming up and they will tell us where we are in this league.

"We didn't look like the fifth-placed team when nicking a point against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, but that is where we are after 15 games and it's a good position to be in.

"But I want the lads to raise the bar and be up there competing with the likes of West Brom when we come to play them.

"These next few games will be a test of our team to see if we can do that. It will be a tough test, but one we have

to deal with if we want to stay where we are."

City made the play-off final two seasons ago, only to miss out on promotion to the Premier League when Hull beat them 1-0 at Wembley.

Johnson believes striving for automatic promotion helped City secure their place in the play-offs in 2008 and is advocating a similarly ambitious approach this time around.

He explained: I want us to try to be even higher in the table than we are and that means challenging the top two. That's where I want us to be.

"We have to target the top two because, in my opinion, that is a minimum requirement for keeping you in the play-off zone.

"I want us to be looking up, not over our shoulders at the teams behind us. I think we're a stronger and more experienced squad than two years ago and I'd like to think we can be up there competing with the top teams."

Meanwhile, Bradley Orr will almost certainly be available for selection for Saturday's trip to Forest.

Ruled out of last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday by the calf strain which forced him to limp off at Barnsley seven days earlier, the right-back has made a full recovery and has trained as normal this week.

Johnson revealed: "Brad wanted to be involved on Saturday because he is that sort of lad.

"But the medical team recommended he wait another week to be on the safe side.

"He's back in training and I'm sure he will be okay for the Forest game."

Orr could return to the starting line-up at the expense of midfielder Cole Skuse, who deputised against Barnsley and Wednesday.