Town will have to dig deep to secure final prize after gruelling haul

The Terriers will play their 60th game of an enthralling campaign when Bournemouth are the visitors to the Galpharm Stadium for a delicately poised League One play-off semi-final second leg.

Town claimed a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s first leg at Dean Court and are favourites to reach the May 29 final at Old Trafford.

To get there, however, Clark’s men will have to dig deep into their resolve at the end of a season that has seen them combine a promotion challenge with decent runs in all three cup competitions.

The Town chief said: “The game is our 60th of the season, which is more than any other team in the country. None of the other 92 clubs have played that many, including Manchester United.

“The success we have had in cup competitions has caused that. We only went out of the two major ones after drawing Premier League opposition (Everton in the Carling Cup and Arsenal in the FA Cup).

“So, it has been important that the players got some energy back in their system over the last few days. They will be flying and firing on all cylinders and ready to drive themselves into the ground.

“That is all credit to the players. I never played in a season with so many games. We had a lot at Sunderland once (in 1997-98 when they played 54 league and cup games) but nothing like what my lads have faced this season.”

Only Manchester United and City with 58 league and cup outings apiece come close to the marathon schedule that has faced Town, who, as well as reaching the FA Cup fourth round, also battled through to the Northern Area final of the JP Trophy before losing to Carlisle United over two legs.

Clark, therefore, has had to tailor training towards keeping his players fresh – which, judging by Town’s current 26-game unbeaten run, has worked well. “My sessions are all done on the stopwatch. Everything is timed down to the last second. We never go over and everything is logged, in terms of how long we have been out on the training pitch.

“We had a long period this season when we played Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. That meant our time on the training field was limited but what we did do was still beneficial.

“The squad has been very important because we have had some unbelievable setbacks. No other team in the top six has had to do without five or six players who are potentially starting players.”

With the sides having drawn three times this season – it was 2-2 at the Galpharm and 1-1 in both games at Dean Court – and with the tie set to go to extra-time and penalties if the scores remain level after 90 minutes, Town have been practising their spot kicks.

Clark is hopeful right-back Lee Peltier (hamstring) will be fit.