Massimo Luongo believes Ipswich Town are well-equipped to handle an emotional day as he looks to secure the first promotion of his career.
A place in the Championship will be Town’s if they beat Exeter at Portman Road, with Luongo playing an important role in the Blues’ surge after coming into the starting XI at the start of March.
Luongo lost in the League One play-offs with Sheffield Wednesday last season and also lost a third-tier final with Swindon in 2015, but is hoping to go one better this weekend.
“It would be massive,” the Australian said, discussing the prospect of promotion.
“I’ve been a part of so many play-off games but to get automatic here would be amazing. It’s so tough and it’s easy to get caught up in things. It’s definitely emotional but you have to have the right characters to block everything out. It’s good pressure – you'd rather have that than be at the other end of the table.
“It’s exciting and an emotional rollercoaster.
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“Personally it would be great. Having it on the CV would be lovely but I want to play well, rather than not playing well and getting promoted. That wouldn’t have the same feeling.
“So I want to get on the pitch tomorrow, do my job and feel like I deserve it if we win.”
Despite an emotional day lying ahead, and a packed Portman Road crowd craving success, Luongo insists preparation for the game has been no different to any of the others which came before it.
“It doesn’t feel any different, I promise you that,” he said.
“Obviously we talk about it but there’s nothing different. There are no banners up or anything like that.
“We are just carrying on and the manager has done a really good job of that. It’s all normal and we are a humble group, so we know there is a proper way to act.
“If we get the job done we can do that (celebrate) then.”
Discussing what is sure to be a brilliant atmosphere inside Portman Road, Luongo said: “That’s the bit we’re most excited about – we know it’s going to be full.
“Everyone is asking for tickets and you know it’s hyped up, with everyone buzzing to be an Ipswich Town supporter.
“We’ll feel it when we get off the bus and then when we walk out. I hope I won’t be able to speak to my mate because it’s so loud.
“We’re all buzzing for that and it’s great.”
Since Luongo made his debut against Burnley in January, the midfielder has never ended on the losing side, with Ipswich dropping points just once in league action (1-1 at Cheltenham) and conceding only two goals with him on the pitch.
“It was pretty much straight away,” the midfielder said, when asked how quickly he realised he could be part of a special team.
“Without naming names I have been at a few clubs this year, either training or seeing if something can work out, but I quickly saw the quality here.
“We have a big squad so it is maybe difficult to manage all of them, but the fact everyone was trying and giving everything in tackles and with their running made me sure it was a good place.
“If you’re not in the squad it’s maybe hard to keep up the motivation but in January time they were all doing it and there was a really good vibe.
“Everything was set up well and things were free-flowing. It was clearly a good place to be.”
Luongo’s Ipswich contract expires at the end of the season, with the midfielder insisting any talk regarding a new one can wait until the campaign is complete.
“I just want to get the job done,” he said. “We haven’t spoken about anything and I’m not searching for that because there hasn’t been time to think about it.
“We’ll think about it as the end."
Asked directly if he would like to stay with the Blues beyond this season, Luongo said: “It’s a great club, of course.”
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