Stand-in skipper Jamie McAllister insists the only way is up for Bristol City.

Currently occupying fourth place in a characteristically topsy-turvy Coca-Cola Championship, the Robins are one of 11 clubs separated by a three-point margin.

But rather than looking over their shoulders at the pursuing pack, McAllister says the focus is very much on catching the teams above them.

"Of course, we're looking higher up the table and setting our sights on catching the top three," declares Scottish international left-back McAllister.

"You always have to aim for the top and we want to reach for the stars, if you like.

"If you set your sights lower and tell people you're prepared to settle for a place in the play-offs, there's no point in turning up on a Saturday afternoon.

"As a group, we've never accepted second best and our aim is to win automatic promotion this season. We all want automatic promotion and we're looking to get into the top two.

"If we aim for the top and concentrate on catching the likes of Birmingham and Wolves, then it can help pull us clear of the chasing pack."

Although McAllister acknowledges a nine-point haul inside a week would represent a notable turnaround in fortunes for City, he is taking nothing for granted.

City were on the receiving end of a 3-0 drubbing when last they visited Oakwell 12 months ago.

"That was our first defeat in the Championship and it hurt us," recalled McAllister, who will again lead the side today in the continued absence of injured captain Louis Carey. "I'm not sure you can say we owe them one, but that result will be in the back of our minds before the game and it would be nice to take our revenge on them."

But McAllister is not fooled by Barnsley's lowly league position and is expecting a rough ride at Oakwell.

He reasoned: "They're a good team with good players and they'll be full of confidence after beating Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

"Barnsley will be lively and they'll play a direct style and come at us. It's up to us to deal with that and try to stop it if we can."

McAllister believes Tuesday's 2-0 triumph over Charltonat The Valley represents a blueprint for the perfect away performance.

"Charlton threw the kitchen sink at us in the first 20 minutes and we had to be very strong to keep them out.

"But once we got our noses in front, it was a different game. We were able to impose ourselves and could have won by five or six goals in the end."

For the first time this season, City were able to play with the carefree fluency which characterised their march to the play-offs last term, an achievement which served to restore the feel-good factor among players who had cause to doubt themselves following defeats at the hands of Wolves, Birmingham and Sheffield United.

"When you come up with a performance like we did the other night, you can play with a smile on your face," confided McAllister.

City manager Gary Johnson makes an enforced change in defence against Barnsley. Bradley Orr serves a one-match suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season against Norwich and Brian Wilson is expected to deputise at right-back.

City (probable): Basso, Wilson, McCombe, Fontaine, McAllister, Williams, Elliott, Johnson, McIndoe, Trundle, Adebola. Subs from: John, Maynard, Sproule, Weale, Webster, Skuse, Akinde.