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Kendall has hit nine goals in the Blue Square Bet North already this term, including the opener against second-placed Stalybridge Celtic earlier this month, before limping off through injury.

And after working his way back to full fitness, the Blues frontman believes the club can start putting daylight between themselves and the other play-off hopefuls in 2012.

Speaking to the Standard, he said: “At the beginning of the season everybody says see where we are at Christmas and then your season usually pans out after that.”

“The gaps start to appear after January and the teams in the play-offs start pulling away from the pack and hopefully we’ll be one of those teams this year.”

“It’s so different to last year when we were fighting relegation but we are at the right end of the table this time and that’s down to the management and the chairman.”

After the New Year’s Day clash at Halifax, Gainsborough entertain league leaders Hyde in their first home game in the New Year before a trip to struggling Solihull Moors but Kendall insists every game from now is going to be tough.

He added: “Hyde’s another massive game for us but so is Solihull, just because they’re down there doesn’t mean it is not a big game, all the games we play now are massive.”

“Beating Stalybridge and Corby proves that we are a good side and I think we more than warrant our current place.”

“In my opinion they (Stalybridge) are the best team in the league and to do the job we did on the night, it proves how far we can push on this season.”

New addition Paul Connor joined the club in December and Kendall is looking forward to playing alongside the former Lincoln City striker.

The pair managed just 32 minutes together in the 3-1 win over Stalybridge before Kendall hobbled off.

“I’ve struggled with injury over the last month or so but hopefully that’s behind me now,” he said.

“We’ve brought in a new striker in Paul who I think will be a massive help to myself and I think I’ll score a lot playing off him.”

“Paul’s a similar player to Stampy (Darryn Stamp) and I love the type of role where I play off the bigger striker.”

“It plays into my hands with my speed and once we get playing together I think the future will be bright.”

Trinity are due to travel to Altrincham in their final league match on Saturday April 28, but Kendall remains optimistic about a further two games.

He said: “We had a rough patch in November but it’s not hampered our season because we are still up there and that proves how well we have done.”

“Last year we could have all booked our holidays by now but this year we are all holding on because we are hoping for a place in the play-offs.”

“I’ve every confidence in us staying up there and fingers crossed it will be our year this year.”