The Stags face Darlington on Tuesday night, before the trip to the Bescot Stadium on Satuday to face Walsall, and Shirtliff told the Mansfield CHAD on Monday "We are staying positive and I hope the fans will stay positive with us.
"It is still early in the season and the league is proving much like last season with everyone capable of beating everyone else.
"We know all about (Julian) Joachim and he will be a threat. But I think we have enough threats of our own. Rather than dwell on their players, I will be looking to our players to cause them problems."
Giles Coke and John Mullins both picked up knocks last time out, and both face fitness tests ahead of the game at Field Mill against Darlington.