Curle and Duff plan to make the most of more substitutes and bigger squads

Cobblers boss Keith Curle and counterpart Michael Duff have both welcomed the decision to allow teams to make two extra substitutions during the play-offs.

Football's international law-makers gave competitions the option of increasing substitutes to protect player welfare on the sport's resumption following a three-month break.

The EFL confirmed they would introduce the new rule for all remaining fixtures in the 2019/20 season, including the League Two play-offs. Teams can also name nine substitutions instead of the normal seven.

"It'll be a benefit," said Curle. "Because of the nature of how these games have come about, it will give us an opportunity to protect the players and also use it as a tactical option within the framework.

"Potentially we're able to change 50 per cent of our outfield players. We've picked the team already but the other players are the game-changers so it's important that they understand what's required.

"We've been chopping and changing in training so they're all playing at the same intensity and the attitude and application of the players has been very, very good."

Robins boss Duff added: "We've had meetings and there might be a bit more of a strategy with the substitutions and a bit more sports science behind it because players might only be able to do certain minutes so we will have plans ready.

"It can also get messy at set-pieces if you're making four or five changes so you need to know who's doing what job and you need to have plans in place depending on who's on the pitch and who isn't.

"That comes down to the whole staff to try and help the players through it and I can guarantee now that all 22 players that start on Thursday won't play in the second game with a quick turnaround.

"People will need to come in and impact the game so it's about trying to have as many plans in place to react to what's happening on the pitch."