The Cobblers play host to relegation favourites Cheltenham Town at Sixfields this weekend in a game which represents the perfect chance for Gray's men to get off the mark in the league.

The side go into the game having failed to score in all four pre-season friendlies in England, although that is a situation that could be corrected by the return of talismanic striker Bayo Akinfenwa, who is expected to start up front.

Gray knows his team must up the ante as far as scoring goals is concerned but says the strikes must be shared around as he names his targets for the new campaign.

"If we can finish one place better than ninth then that will be fantastic," he said.

"But to beat ninth place that would obviously put us very close to the play-offs.

"So if we are to continue our progression we will be there or thereabouts around the play-offs.

"We haven't scored a lot of goals in pre-season but it goes like that sometimes.

"We had a spell last season where we didn't score in five games and then after that we really kicked on.

"It happens in football. Yes, we do look solid but I'm a firm believer that if we get the ball in the right areas we will get goals.

"We're winning enough set-plays, and I've got enough six-foot plus centre-halves going up for them so it's a collective thing rather than an individual thing.

"Everyone talks about having a striker that can get you 20 goals but you've got to have players chipping in all around the team."

Akinfenwa played the first half of a behind-closed-doors game at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, and confirmed he would do everything possible to be involved at the weekend.

The big man's return has given Gray some food for thought, although he did hint his number 10 may partner new signing Leon Constantine in the first game.

"Bayo played 45 minutes in the game we organised against QPR and he hasn't had any reaction from that so he'll be in contention for tomorrow," he said.

"We all want to see Bayo and Leon play together but it hasn't happened at all in pre-season.

"He's left a door open in terms of selection up front and it's something I'm going to have to have a look at."

The Cobblers go into tomorrow's opener without the injured Giles Coke and the suspended Abdul Osman.