LUKE Williams is prioritising Swindon Town’s level of performance over their guaranteed survival in League One when they host Chesterfield on Saturday.

Town are seven points clear of the drop zone with three games to go and victory over the Spireites would not only end their nine-match winless run, it would also ensure they are safe from relegation.

Although Williams would be delighted if that is what transpires at the weekend, the Town head coach’s chief ambition is to see another strong showing from his team following the draw at Walsall.

“That would be a tremendous moment to know that mathematically the debate is over but I also feel like the key objective still is to increase the performance,” Williams told BBC Wiltshire.

“I think Tuesday was a big step forwards in performance against a very strong side and I fully expect us to build upon that.

“The performance is the key because without performance, you can be lost and drifting but with a positive performance, you feel like you have got hope and feel like you can build upon it.

“We have been a number of weeks without very key players in the team and that’s not always been taken into consideration.

“I think the boys that have come in have tried and given everything. Some of them not quite ready to play a full campaign of league football and some are probably just lacking a few qualities in their game to replicate the top players.”

Midfielder Fabien Robert missed the Walsall match after being struck down by injury in training and Williams admits the Frenchman’s ankle problem is a worry.

“He might have the same problem he’s had twice already where he seems to be very tight around the ankle without any prior warning, it comes very suddenly,” he added.

“He might have a nerve issue in the side of his ankle.”