Adams: Cobblers will 'give it everything we've got' to finish what we started

Nicky Adams has vowed to give the play-offs 'everything we've got' as the Cobblers try to 'finish off the job' and win promotion from Sky Bet League Two this season.

Town were handed an unlikely lifeline in their promotion pursuit when clubs in League Two voted to end the regular season but keep the play-offs.

The decision has yet to be ratified by the EFL Board but Cobblers would play Cheltenham in a two-legged semi-final if an unweighted points-per-game method is applied.

"It's a massive boost," said Adams. "I didn't even know what was happening. I was out for a walk with my family and the next thing I knew my phone was going mad.

"We've all been training on our own and mentally that can be tough but you've got to be focused and keep thinking what's to come.

"If you're in the middle of the table or bottom half, I can understand that it could be difficult to stay motivated but we knew there was still a chance that we would get an opportunity to go up.

"It's not been made official yet but we're still preparing and the gaffer's been great with us all through this. He's been on all the calls and he's said now is the time to step up our training.

"Now we'll step it up on our own and I've already been out to do some more intense stuff because we'll only have a couple of weeks and then we'll be straight into it.

"The only downside is that the supporters will not be there to see us over the line but they'll be watching on television and supporting us so it'd be up to us to go and give everything we've got and hopefully finish what we started.

"The season has been so positive and everyone has got a smile on their face after a tough few years. We set out to challenge for promotion at the start of the season and we're now right in the mix and we've got a chance to finish the job off."

In normal circumstances, the play-offs would be held in the immediate aftermath of the regular campaign, but this time around Cobblers will go into the biggest game of their season after a three-month break.

"It'll be strange but everyone is in the same boat," added Adams. "We've all been ticking over and you know what the play-offs are like - form goes out of the window and it can be anyone's on the day.

"We respect all the teams in there because they're all good sides but we've just got to prepare as best as we can and make sure we're ready to go whenever the first game is."