Analysis: Is there a big push left in Shrewsbury Town’s tank?

That is what blue and amber supporters are desperate to find out – but nobody, including Paul Hurst, knows the answer yet.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. This time next week Town will either be consigned to League One or have a Wembley shot for a staggering reward of Championship football.

Football against nearby rivals Stoke City, and likely against West Bromwich Albion.

Their regular League One campaign ended with a forgettable 1-0 home defeat to already-relegated MK Dons.

Two legs against former Premier League stalwarts Charlton, who finished in sixth place after a defeat at Rochdale, define a monumental 46-game season. One hundred and eighty gut-wrenching minutes to sum up the long months of hardship.

Will Town be ready physically, mentally, emotionally, tactically, technically? All factors that may decide play-off success.

At least everyone connected with Town, from players, staff to fans, can now focus fully on the play-offs.

A lull of four games where nothing was on the line is now out of the way. Games against Bury, Peterborough, Blackpool and MK Dons have been like pre-season friendlies. Say what you like about doing your bit to cement a place in the team – it is extremely difficult to have that fire in the belly with nothing on the line and six changes in your line-up.

Hurst’s men were largely ordinary for much of those four games. A couple of players impressed – but, realistically, it was a period of offering players much-needed rests and avoiding injury.

Shrewsbury will undoubtedly need to be much better against the dangerous Addicks – who won 2-0 at Montgomery Waters Meadow less than a month ago – than in these quartet of games.

In the latest, Saturday’s visit of MK Dons, Town huffed and puffed in difficult, sweltering conditions but it didn’t quite happen.

Already-relegated Dons put a slight dampener on the Meadow’s end of season party and inflicted just a ninth league defeat on Hurst’s men, who missed out on a record 90 points.

Many thought Hurst would use the occasion as a dress rehearsal for Thursday’s first-leg but, with Joe Riley starting in central midfield and Abo Eisa out on the wing, perhaps the Town boss still has selection headaches.

He may also need to make a key decision regarding his lone centre-forward role as Stefan Payne and Carlton Morris battle it out.

The game itself was mostly nothingness. Hurst described it afterwards as ‘all right’, but he was not about to waste any time in analysing how the Dons ended their six-game losing streak with a 1-0 win. The penalty decider, conceded just after the hour by Toto Nsiala, was a stone-waller. No complaints.

Town attacked well at times and were devoid of fortune as the ball pinged around Dons’ box on occasions. On another day they’d have scored at least one. Hurst will hope they are storing their luck for a bigger day...

Shrewsbury can be forgiven for playing within themselves here. This period was about staying refreshed and injury-free. Training levels have been ramped up and Town looked fit in the heat, particularly in the first half.

The Shrewsbury support was fantastic. The loudest home support of the season. That, coupled with the party atmosphere at Blackpool a week prior, needs to be taken into the Charlton double-header. That boost can make a difference.

Bring on the play-offs. Town’s first in seven years. All or nothing.