Curle will put his players to the test when they resume training

Keith Curle will put his players through some rigorous physical and mental tests when training resumes to ensure they've kept themselves in tip-top condition during the two-month shutdown of football.

Cobblers players have been training individually at home since the season was suspended in mid-March but that could soon be about to change with the League Two play-offs set to go ahead.

Whilst training in small groups for leagues one and two will not be permitted prior to May 25 - when Championship clubs will return - Cobblers can begin making the PTS suitable for 'socially-distanced' training in line with guidance from the EFL.

"Clubs in League One and League Two can make their training ground pitches available for individual socially-distanced training sessions, adhering to all the relevant government guidance and RTT protocols," read an EFL statement released on Friday.

"The provisions are in place with Nationwide Pathology to extend the testing programme into League One and League Two as required, depending on the final outcome of the season curtailment discussions."

It might be another week or so until the Cobblers are back on the training pitch but Curle is already preparing to put his players through their paces.

He said: "First and foremost, as much as I'd like to, I don't take every single player's word that they've done every single training session that they were told to do.

"There will be a mental and physical gauging of where the players are at when we're able to get that first contact time. The protocols will put in place to maximise the health and safety of the players returning to the sporting environment.

"There's a lot of work to be done at the training ground and at the stadium first of all before the players can return because it's important the environment is safe and we want to make sure we adhere to the protocols.

"Once we get the clarity, it'll be the best we can make it for the players and then it's about managing the environment and managing players to find out where they're at physically.

"Then it's about the mental side of it and the man management of the players, both individually and collectively, but the players are competitive and we're in a competitive industry and we want to be in that competitive environment - but we also need to make sure it's safe and they have clear guidelines to follow."

Asked how he reacted to the news that the play-offs could go ahead, Curle said: "It's come at a great time for me because I was just about to start wallpapering in the bedroom. All the tools were out but now I've had to pack them away because I don't think I'll have the time to do it now!

"That's been put on hold and now it's a case of getting the information on board and waiting for the phone calls to get some more clarity on the situation and what the format will be if we are able to return and play in the play-offs.

"There's a desire to try and finish the season with promotion and earn it through the play-offs."