Town defender Christophe Berra acknowledges the huge vote of confidence from boss Mick McCarthy that has made him ever-present this season.
Berra has only missed a handful of games since he arrived at Portman Road in July 2013 but the summer arrival of Adam Webster from Portsmouth meant he was under more pressure than ever before to hang on to his first team place.
McCarthy selected Webster for the first game of the season, relegating Tommy Smith to the bench but admitting it was "a toss of the coin” decision as to whether Smith or Berra made way for the 21-year-old new boy.
Asked if he was worried about being the odd one out, Berra said: "It’s part and parcel of football and you learn to just get on with it.
"I know my ability so I just keep my head down and try to play as consistently as I can, which is what I think I’ve done. That’s all I can do and that’s your job if you’re a sportsman.”
Berra denied he was confident of receiving the nod ahead of Smith but added: "I’m not saying I’m confident but I’m quite laid-back and just get on with things.
"It’s football and I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I just come out and train well and try to play well also.
"As you get older in the game you learn how to deal with the ups and downs, as well as how to accept them.
"If I don’t play well or I make a mistake I’m the kind of guy who will speak to my parents and friends about it but I’ve learned you have to move on and that nothing can be gained from dwelling on it.
"If you did dwell on it you would have demons in your head basically all the time. As a defender, especially, it’s part and parcel of football.
"When goals are conceded it’s the defenders who take the blame — that’s the way it is and you’ve got to be thick-skinned.
"There are going to be times in any season when I am going to be at fault for goals scored against us and it’s the same for every defender right across the world.
"It doesn’t matter what club you play for — when goals are conceded it will be the fault of one of the defenders or a case of ‘could have done better’. But it’s a job we have to do and in my case I just get on with it.
"On a personal note, I am happy with my form so far this season. Being a centre-half is about being consistent and I think I’ve done that really.”
Asked to comment on Webster’s displays this season — the pair played a major part in keeping a clean sheet in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Derby — Berra said: "He did well the other night at Derby and he’s done well in the previous games he played.
"Obviously, there’s things happened in the past but he’s only 21 and hopefully he’s only going to get better and progress as time goes on.
"I try to help and organise the people around me, the full-backs and the central midfielders basically, and I make sure he’s covering in the right positions.
"Adam’s only 21 and hopefully he can only get better. He did well at Derby and the press are sure building him up.
"Hopefully they won’t put too much pressure on his back. It’s early days yet but he’s done well, while all the boys around him have also done well and that has made it easier for us all at the back.”
Berra also had praise for goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, whose impressive run of form stretches back several months.
"Bart’s a good shot-stopper and he has made vital saves at vital times for us,” said Berra. "That’s what goalkeepers are for and it’s the same at a lot of clubs in this division.
"Bart has shown he is a top keeper and he has been consistent, which is another key factor.
"It’s especially important for keepers to hit form. When you are in the team it’s hard for the number two keeper to get in. Gerks [Dean Gerken] was unlucky to drop out of the side through injury or illness.
"It has happened a few times between them over the past couple of seasons, one of them dropping out and it having nothing to do with form, and when the other guy has come in he’s done well.”