Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said his players have 11 cup finals that will decide their Sky Bet Championship fate, starting at Ipswich Town tomorrow.
The Bees are sixth in the table with 11 games remaining.
They are five points off the top and only four outside the promotion places.
They face Ipswich Town – who are seventh, a point behind – at Portman Road tomorrow, Saturday March 7, as the final run in to the end of the season continues.
Mark, speaking to Bees Player earlier this week, said his team had to head to Suffolk and enjoy the occasion.
“We will be looking for a performance and a result,” said the Brentford boss.
“If we perform well it will lead to a good result.
“They have a very talented squad, extremely well managed by Mick McCarthy, who has vast experience.
“We have to go there and enjoy the occasion.
“Every game is a cup final, it is a cliché but it is.”
The Bees have won three of their last four games and climbed above Ipswich this week with a win against Huddersfield Town while the Suffolk side lost away to Leeds United.
Ipswich rested top scorer Daryl Murphy and striker Freddie Sears but Mark said he expected both to return and young midfield player Teddy Bishop could play.
Mark said Ipswich would be without David McGoldrick but his side had to be prepared for a physical test.
“We are aware of the quality they have – Murphy and Sears were rested, we expect them to come back, and Bishop may play,” said the Brentford boss.
“Murphy is a good target man.
“They tend to play long and have runners around.
“McGoldrick is injured but Sears is quick and has made a good impression.
“He is a very talented player.
“They are direct but do it well, they are well-organised, disciplined and have a good physicality about them.
“It is a tough test, a great ground with great history but we have to enjoy it.”
Ipswich beat The Bees 4-2 at Griffin Park on Boxing Day, scoring within 20 seconds.
Mark said his team had to be ready from the first whistle and wanted to repeat the performance from Tuesday’s win over Huddersfield rather than the one from defeat at Birmingham City last Saturday.
“The game can be won in the 93rd minute or lost in the first,” he said.
“I heard a fan say he knew we were on our ‘A’ game for the first whistle on Tuesday.
“We have to look at what that means and replicate it.
“What gave that indication, what did we do on Tuesday that we didn’t at Birmingham – one or two touches in the final third rather than three or four, keeping our width, getting bodies forward.
“Hopefully we can replicate that.”
Brentford beat Huddersfield 4-1 on Tuesday and Mark described the performance as “pleasing”.
Chris Long scored early on but Huddersfield levelled in the first half against the run of play.
The Bees went in level at the break but second half goals from Long, Alex Pritchard and Jon Toral gave them the win.
“It was a really pleasing performance,” said Mark.
“It was important to bounce back in the right manner after Saturday.
“The tempo was good, the intensity was good and we could have been two or three up by half time.
“We went in at 1-1 but the reaction was positive.
“We got bodies forward, maintained good tempo and intensity and it was a comfortable win in the end.”
Brentford’s promotion rivals Ipswich and Norwich City both suffered defeats on Wednesday night.
Ipswich lost away at Leeds while Norwich were beaten 1-0 at home by Wigan Athletic, who had started the night next to bottom.
The Ipswich game is the last of five games in 14 days for all the Championship sides and so far no team has done better than Brentford’s three wins from four games.
“The games last night showed what this division is like,” said Mark.
“We knew Ipswich had a tough game at Leeds but Norwich were going for a seventh straight win against Wigan and it would have looked nailed on.
“It was a tremendous result for Wigan.
“In this league you can’t take anything for granted, every game is key.
“If you lose concentration you get punished.
“We have this run of games and some teams may rest players and rotate, some stick with it and that may not be the right thing, or you change formation to accommodate.
“The players are fit and well and fatigue can come from outside.
“The media, press, TV, radio say that players will be tired and the seed is planted.
“Players want to play games and we want to enjoy it.
“It is physically and mentally tiring but we tell them to go and enjoy it.”
Long scored twice his first start on Tuesday.
He is on loan from Everton and Mark said he always knew Long had what it took but Andre Gray, who has scored 13 goals this season, was also doing a great job.
Mark said he was happy with his attacking options.
“Andre has been outstanding for us and it was good for him to see how he impacts a game coming on against a more tired defence on Tuesday,” said the Brentford boss.
“Chris is full of energy, full of quality and has an eye for a goal.
“He has a hunger about playing the game.
“Chris has what it takes.
“When a player comes in from a Premier League club there is a demand for a certain amount of minutes on the pitch.
“Sometimes teams can change formations to accommodate players in this way and it can be damaging.
“Andre has led the line well and Chris is an option, a different type of striker.
“We have good options.
“If we bring in a third striker what do we say to the club we loan them from and what do we say to the players that have got us to the top six.
“To get a player to impact the squad they have to be a Premier League or top Championship player.
“They will want to play games; they won’t want to be on our bench.”
Mark said Long was pushing to start at Ipswich and he had other selection dilemmas.
He explained in the centre of defence Tony Craig and Harlee Dean were pushing Liam Moore and James Tarkowski while Alan McCormack, Tommy Smith and Toral were also in contention.
Mark said Alan Judge had trained and Lewis Macleod was close to being fit to play in a Development Squad match to build his fitness.
“Chris has put forward a strong case for starting and Andre has been outstanding all season,” said Mark.
“Liam Moore and Tarky did well but we have Harlee and Tony Craig chomping at the bit.
“Alan McCormack wants to play, Tommy Smith was excellent.
“Jon Toral scored another goal and influenced the game.
“The squad is in good shape and I have a few problems between now and Saturday.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full pre-match interview with Mark Warburton here.