MORTON veteran Chris Millar says the side want to hit the 40 point mark as quickly as possible — starting their charge with a win on Saturday.

The midfielder revealed the aim is to reach the points tally set out by the club sooner rather than later.

A total of 38 points put Falkirk down last year, while Alloa avoided the play-offs with 39.

Millar says that is already firmly in the Ton’s sights after such a positive start to the new year.

He told the Tele: “This weekend is a big game for us and it’ll be tough.

“Queen of the South are very much like ourselves, because there’s a group of us bunched up around each other just outside the top four and we want to continue the form that we’ve been on since before the turn of the year.

“It’s important to go into the game looking for a win, especially at home and to keep pushing up the table and picking up points.

“We’ve all been working really hard to implement what the gaffer wants us to do.

“We’re still a new team and we’re starting to understand each other.

“Everybody’s buying into it and I think you’ve been able to see with the results over the last few weeks just how much hard work has gone in on the training ground over the last eight months.

“Results have turned and it’s looking a lot more positive, but we can’t get carried away. 

“We want to get to that 40-point mark as quickly as possible.

“That’s a wee target we’ve set ourselves, so hopefully we can get to that and then push ourselves on again towards the end of the season.

“It’s something that you should look at to be safe and it sets you up to finish strongly when you hit that mark.

“You never know what your points tally is going to end up as, but it’s definitely something to work towards.”

The Morton star believes that the game in hand against the Doonhamers on Saturday could have a significant impact on where the Ton finish up, as they look to take advantage of other teams being idle in and around them.

He added: “The fact that it’s our game in hand definitely adds some significance because you’re wanting points on the board.

“Playing that game a bit later obviously helps us but you’ve got to go out and win it now and that’s what’s important.

“If we win then we can match Dundee. 

“When you look at the strength and depth that they have then that would be massive for us and it would also pull us away from the teams at the bottom as well, so it’s a big incentive.

“But on the flip side of things if we lose then we get dragged back into the dogfight and that just shows how tight it is and just how important it is to get to that 40-point mark.”