Town defender Tommy Smith believes Saturday’s play-off clash against Norwich is the most important game of his club career.
Smith, 25, who appeared in the 2010 World Cup with New Zealand, said: "It is definitely the biggest club game of my career. I’ve never been in a play-off situation before and as a club it’s been 10 long years since we’ve been in there.
"Everyone is really excited and looking forward to it. "I think it’s probably going to be the most important game I’ve played in because of the prize at the end of it.
"We haven’t done anything differently — we’ve prepared the same as we’ve prepared for every game this season — and there’s no point in changing what has made us successful so far. We’ve just cracked on this week and hopefully we’ll be prepared and ready to go.
"Playing in high-pressure games can only benefit you in this sort of situation but I think any player would be lying if they said they don’t get nervous for the big games.
"It’s how you channel that nervous energy into your performance that matters. With some people it affects them negatively but it’s about turning it into a positive energy and working best for your performance.”
Smith reflected on the bittersweet final game of the season at Blackburn last Saturday when, despite losing 3-2, they emerged to learn that they were in the play-offs thanks to results elsewhere, particularly at Derby as Reading pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory.
He added: "The feeling in the dressing room afterwards was very strange. Obviously, we were happy to make the top six but we were also very disappointed with the way that particular game had gone.
"It was strange and it didn’t really start to sink in that we had actually made the play-offs until we were halfway through the journey home and everyone started chirping up and becoming a bit more happy about it.
"During the game I heard the crowd cheer but I wasn’t sure whether there was still only a one-goal swing in it or it might have changed things.
"But when the final whistle went and we got told it was quite comfortable in the end it was a big relief because I wasn’t 100 per cent sure until then.
"Now we are ready to grab this opportunity to progress in the play-offs. I think we’ve proved ourselves against some of the top teams this season — obviously not quite so against Norwich but it’s time we owe them one.
"There is no guarantee this chance will come round again. This might be the only chance we have of getting ourselves into the Premier League, so we’ve got to put everything on the line, make sure we leave nothing inside that changing room and give it all we’ve got.”
Smith insisted he always believed the play-offs would be within Town’s reach this season, adding: "Apart from the first month of the season we’ve always been in and around it, and I always had every confidence that we were going to make it.”