"We aim to be up there at the end of the season and, for me, finishing in the play-off spots would be a disappointment. Although that would still give us a chance of going up, I firmly believe we are good enough to finish in the top two.
"We should be beating the top teams, especially at home. The strength of the squad is unbelievable – we had a reserve game last week and an Australian international (David Carney) couldn't even get in the side."
Halford is restoring a battered reputation after struggling to command a place at both Reading and Sunderland in the wake of £2m-plus transfer deals.
"It's really nice to be playing regular football again," he admitted. "That is all I want to do and it is nice to come into training with a smile on my face again.
"The manager has shown me a lot of respect and given me the chance to show people that I am not a bad player. Hopefully, I can repay that."
