Shrewsbury Town have been urged to thrive on the pressures of win-or-bust football as they prepare for their final roll of the play-off dice.

Town must realistically win their last three games, starting at Northampton tomorrow, if they are to have any chance of reaching the League Two play-offs for the third time in five seasons.

Even then they would be forced to rely on results from elsewhere, but Simpson has urged his side to rise to the challenge.

“These are the type of games – when you have the chance to achieve something – that you are in football for,” said the Town boss.

“We all know what’s needed and I think our three opponents (Northampton, Morecambe and Port Vale) are all in the same position in that we all probably need three wins.

“The hard work began when we started pre-season training on July 1 and there is a chance to get a reward for all those efforts now.

“We have got some confidence from the last three games and we have to build on that now.

“But all we can do is take it one game at a time because, if we don’t do it properly tomorrow, then the next two games could become irrelevant with regards the play-offs.”

The pressure is also on Northampton, who have failed to find the net in any of their last four games.

But the hosts are set to be be boosted by the return of striker and leading scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa, who has been out with an ankle injury.

l Shrewsbury midfielder Craig Disley returned to training yesterday but will not come into contention until he has had a reserve team run-out next Thursday.

Jake Robinson’s training comeback has been put back until today after a minor setback, the same time that skipper Graham Coughlan should return.