Nigel Pearson has told the players approaching the end of their contracts that they have six matches to play for their Bristol City futures.
A total of four players find themselves out of contract this summer in Andy King, Callum O'Dowda, Robbie Cundy and Timm Klose. The Robins do have one-year options on both King and O'Dowda although whether the manager opts to keep them at the club or reduce the wage bill remains unclear.
In midfielder King, his season has been hampered by injuries having made just 12 Championship appearances while O'Dowda has struggled for consistency both in terms of performance and availability, due to a series of niggly injuries over the last two years.
O'Dowda hasn't featured through injury since a 19-minute cameo against Reading on February 9 while King has also been hampered with a hamstring injury picked up against Cardiff on January 22. Both players have returned to training this week but Saturday's game with Peterborough will come too soon for them.
Klose, a January arrival, has been a key figure in defence while Cundy is enjoying a run in the first-team following the injury to Tomas Kalas. Both have impressed on the whole but have failed to plug the gap in a City defence that has conceded 72 goals this season.
Then there are the players whose deals expire in 2023. Dan Bentley, Nahki Wells, Han-Noah Massengo, Jay Dasilva, Kalas, Zak Vyner, Kasey Palmer and Nathan Baker are the most notable names.
With City's challenging financial position, which was made evident yesterday when Pearson said he is unlikely to have any money to spend this summer, it could be the last opportunity to cash in on them and raise much-needed funds to reinvest in his squad.
But the manager was eager to look at the here and now and with six games remaining of the season, set a target to those players who are currently left in the dark over their deals.
He said in his press conference ahead of Saturday's game with Peterborough: "I wouldn't use this as a forum to tell people exactly what the situation is if I've not spoken to them individually.
"There is still time this season for decisions to be either tweaked or changed so if players are out of contract and there are opportunities to play then they've clearly got a chance to make a difference.
"We've got a lot of players who have limited experience at this level, there are a number of things which may or may not be influences but the remaining games we've got both home and away are important for us as a team for us as a club certainly, but for the players themselves.
"They've got to rubber-stamp their involvement in the squad for next season. We are always playing for something at the moment until we're mathematically safe.
"The most important thing is that we continue to put in good performances to give us a good chance to get something out of the game. This game at the weekend is an important one for us.
"We're aware that we need to make changes again this summer and there are areas of the team which will need attention, but that isn't for now.
"Although work is being down behind the scenes, the emphasis on the moment is very much on the remaining games to make sure we firstly get enough points to make sure we are going to play in this division and then also for players to cement their places within the squad. That's the priority at the moment."
On Thursday, Pearson delivered a bleak assessment of City's financial resources for the summer transfer window, admitting he is unlikely to have any money to spend despite the need and desire to bring in players.
He added: "I can't tell you what the market is going to be like but I have intentions to strengthen the squad, as it stands at the moment, I can't see us spending any money.
"It's all about cutting your cloth accordingly, we are in a situation that we're in as a football club and if we need to be creative, we'll be creative."
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