The Swansea-based region – currently playing in Bridgend – did so by extending their unbeaten league run to five matches with a 21-10 win over Ulster.
They secured the spoils with late tries from Player of the Match James Ratti and winger Dan Kasende in front of their delighted fans at the Brewery Field.
Reflecting on his team’s hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages, Jones said: “There are six rounds left. We have got to go on the road a little bit in the next few weeks, but we’ve also got some derbies in there.
“There’s a lot of rugby to be played. It is tight. Anybody at any time can get in that top eight at the moment, right down to about 14th.
“One bonus point win, one loss can shift you up and down the table three or four places.
“So we are going to have to string some games together. But that’s five now we are undefeated in the league, so that’s a bit of momentum.
“I do think we can make the top eight. I really believe in the group.”
Trailing 10-7 at the break, the Ospreys hammered away through the second half, but couldn’t turn pressure into points until flanker Ratti went over from a tap penalty 12 minutes from time, with winger Kasende then pouncing to seal the victory late on.
“We made very hard work of it in patches, particularly the second half,” said Jones.
“I think with about 15 minutes to go, it was 70 per cent territory and not a lot to show for it.
“Our conversion rate in the red zone was well below what it normally is.
“But we found a way. We went away from the lineout and went after a tap strike. It was smart from the boys there just to mix it up.
“We have got it up our sleeve. It’s another way of us trying to convert in that area of the pitch.
“We showed some good leadership on the field there to identify it and adjust well. I was really pleased with the composure and just pleased for the boys overall.”
Adding his assessment, blindside Ratti said: “It was a big physical battle.
“Ulster are having a good season and we knew they were going to bring it physically, so it was up to us to match it and try and go beyond.
“We back ourselves against anyone here at the Brewery Field. It’s always a good occasion down here. You can hear the fans all the time. When you are blowing, you hear the crowd. They get behind you and it gives you that little extra bit in your legs to keep fighting.
“Even after we went behind quite early, we were confident we were still going to be in the game. We stuck to our process, fought back and I thought we deserved it in the end.”
Saturday evening’s other game in Wales saw a dramatic ending at Rodney Parade where the Dragons and Benetton drew 15-15.
It looked as though the Italian visitors were going to claim the spoils with Player of the Match Onisi Ratave having crossed twice to put them in front.
But, in the final play of the game, the Dragons’ centre Fine Inise touched down to level the scores.
That gave Angus O’Brien the chance to secure a fifth successive home win for his team, but the full-back’s touchline conversion just drifted wide.
His coach Filo Tiatia said: “What I said to the group is the silver lining is we’ve got two points out of it.
“I was very proud of the performance.
"The character, the grit, the scrap and the fight wanting to stay in it was excellent. You can see signs that they are a tight group.”
Giving the view from the Benetton camp, their skipper Andy Uren said: “We let that one go. We should have won the game. I think we were the better team. We are very, very disappointed.”
What’s coming next?
There’s a break from league action next week as the focus switches back to the Six Nations.
But there are two rearranged fixtures on the eve of the Super Saturday finale to the Championship, with Connacht hosting the Scarlets and Edinburgh entertaining Ulster on Friday, March 13.
Then there’s a full programme on the weekend of March 20-21 with the pick of the Round 13 fixtures being the top of the table clash between leaders Glasgow and second-placed Leinster at Scotstoun.
