PNE's captain has tasted the agony of play-off defeats three times, featuring in near misses against Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Leeds.

The 31-year-old midfielder said: "I wonder whether this could be my last chance, the next seven games are massive.

"The tension doesn't get any easier the more experienced you are, but we are giving it our best shot and hopefully we can squeeze into the top six.

"To be in this position is a fantastic effort, the boys should be very proud."

McKenna, who could overtake Sir Tom Finney's PNE appearance record this season, added: "I was looking at a newspaper article the other day and it claimed Birmingham City's wage bill was something like £20m, which is an unbelieveable statistic when you compare that to the resources we operate on.

"For Preston to be competing and beating those teams, some of them who attract double our league gates, is an incredible achievement.

"You also have to look at the bigger picture too.

"Fifteen months ago we were bottom of the Championship, but Alan Irvine has transformed the club.

"He is an incredibly thorough manager, leaves nothing to chance, and everybody has responded to him in a most positive way.

"Sometimes this season we've struggled to put a team on the pitch because of injuries and other factors.

"So to be challenging for promotion while far richer clubs than us aren't, is a formidable effort.

"A couple of months ago I would have said that it was going to take a really high total to get in the play-offs.

"But that total has come down quite significantly I believe in the last month."

Goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan was critical of a small element of supporters who booed North End at half-time in last weekend's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Coventy City.

McKenna said: "I can certainly see where Andy is coming from because it is a bit disappointing when you hear that at Deepdale.

"We've got fantastic supporters but I can't stress how important it is for them to get behind the lads every minute because that sort of things creates a negativity just when we don't need it.

"We need every single person behind us because that can give you a 12th man.

"We are in a great position, but it is crunch time now."

Preston go to relegation-haunted Charlton tomorrow still occupying seventh place in the table but under pressure from two sides immediately below them.

Bristol City are a couple of points behind while Swansea are just three points adrift of North End.

Burnley, who occupy the final play-off berth, are two points better off than Preston.

But North End's alarming points famine on the road is an obvious cause for concern, having won just three times away in the Championship, compared to 14 wins at Deepdale, the best record in the Championship.

That's a huge discrepancy, and McKenna added: "We've talked about it a lot and we just don't know why that is.

"Maybe it is more of a state of mind thing but it is really strange that we haven't won more away games.

"We've got in a rut away from home and we can't put a finger on why that has happened.

"It is very frustrating, especially when our home record is so good."
Two goals from Chris Brown handed Preston a 2-1 win at the Valley last season, and Irvine would settle for the same again against the bottom-of-the-table Valiants, who look doomed to relegation.

"Tomorrow will be a big test because Charlton are fighting for their lives, and they've still got some quality players, " said McKenna.

"A year ago Charlton were challenging for the play-offs, but they have had a calamitous season, so it shows how fast things can change."

"The Championship race for promotion is what concerns us, though, and I'm convinced it will go right down to the wire.

"Probably everything will be decided on the final day," he said.

Focus on Charlton Athletic in Friday's Lancashire Evening Post

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