A good manager will have the team 100% focused on the next game (and only the next game). So from that perspective, the players shouldn't be worry about 2nd or 3rd place. It's all very Zen.
The manager on the other hand should be ensuring he maximises the points we win from every game and let the final position take care of itself.
I think it was different last season, as we didn't have much to play for after the split, so McCall was resting players for the Cup Final. I didn't agree with that approach, but at least he had a plan. With so much at stake this season, I can't imagine a repeat of that even if we do get to another final.