Derby County are staring straight into the eyes of the battle ahead for the final stretch of the season and Joe Ledley insists though it may not be pretty they will be up for the fight.
The Rams are looking to build on momentum from the hard-fought 1-0 win at Preston North End on Monday and will scramble to get every point on offer.
But like Derby, the remaining teams they face each have their own agenda whether they are at the top reaching for automatic promotion or a play-off place or at the opposite end trying to keep above water and survive in the Championship for another season.
With such a tight race at either end of the table, Ledley understands that no matter their opponent the Rams will have to fight.
He told RamsTV: “It’s going to be a battle these last seven games, it’s not going to be pretty.”
“It’s all about determination and trying to get one over on the other team. Whoever is in front of us we need to be strong and get the three points. That’s the most vital thing at this time of the season.”
Gary Rowett’s men will return to action at Pride Park on Saturday to face Bolton Wanderers, kick-off 3pm.
The Whites are in a fight for their lives sat 20th in the table eight points above bottom-dwellers Burton.
“They are obviously down there in the mix and will be trying to get as many points, similar to us, as they can. So it’s exactly the same scenario and its down to us to come out on top,” Ledley added.
Father time could play to the Rams advantage in the last seven games. With 10 players on the team over 30 and a wealth of experience under their belt, the Welsh midfielder believes that could set them apart as they eye the play-offs.
“We have a lot of experience on this team. I know we have a lot around their 30s but experience at this part of the season is vital,” he said.
“That’s what you need, you can’t buy experience and hopefully myself and a few of the other boys can come through and show that. We need to take it game by game starting with Bolton on Saturday which is going to be another battle and we need to be up for the fight.”
Ledley added: “We have just got to stick together and hopefully don’t get any injuries, sending offs or anything like that.
“We need to be a tight group and whoever is called upon needs to step up and perform. Credit to the players this season, that’s what we have done and need to continue that. You want to play glamourous football and get the ball down like we can but at this stage it doesn’t matter.”
Ledley found himself back into the fold against Sunderland after suffering a calf injury against Queens Park Rangers at the beginning of March.
But due to the postponed game against his former club Cardiff City and the two-week international break, he had the time to recover and missed only the match against rivals Nottingham Forest.
Now injury-free, he said: “It’s frustrating, no player wants to be injured. Thankfully it was only one game, it could have been longer.
“There was the international break and I was devastated not to go away with Wales and represent my country, but these things happen. I wanted to get out there as soon as possible and the medical staff were brilliant. It was a great feeling to get back out there and hopefully be injury-free for the rest of the season.