Motherwell's Elijah Just is turning up the heat—and loving every minute of it. As the Steelmen push for a fourth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, the New Zealand international is embracing the pressure that comes with a European chase.

"At the start of the season, nobody really expected us to be in the mix for Europe," Just admitted. "But the way we've played and the position we've put ourselves in, it's become an expectation now."

With just three matches left, Motherwell sit six points clear of fifth-placed Hibernian. The schedule is no walk in the park: home games against Hearts and Celtic, followed by a season-ending trip to Easter Road. But Just and his teammates are laser-focused on sealing fourth place—and the guaranteed European spot that comes with it—on their own terms.

"We want to get the job done, especially at home," Just said, looking ahead to this weekend's clash with Hearts. "If we can finish fourth and secure that European spot, it'll feel like a job well done."

The alternative is less appealing. Falling to fifth would leave Motherwell relying on Celtic to win the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline to sneak into Europe. "That's the worst position to be in—waiting and hoping," Just explained. "We want to control our own destiny."

For a team that started the season under the radar, the stakes are suddenly sky-high. But Just isn't shying away. "There's pressure on us," he said. "People would look at the season differently if we finished fifth. So we're determined to get the job done."

With European football on the line, Motherwell are ready to prove they belong on the big stage. And for fans eyeing that next piece of kit to celebrate the journey, the Steelmen's rise is the kind of story that makes wearing the colors even sweeter.