Paul Jewell has backed his aging squad to overcome a gruelling run of games and secure a play-off spot.

The Blues travel to Cardiff City today before two successive winnable home matches against managerless Portsmouth and Crystal Palace during a period of five games in 22 days.

While rival bosses are debating whether to tinker with their squad during a busy seven days, Jewell has made his plans loud and clear.

The Town manager said: “I have never been one to go big on rotation. I want players to want to play every week.

“We are not the youngest team in the world but my experience is that players feel less tired when they are winning games. What is important is resting between the games, that is just as important as training.”

Jewell is preparing to name the same starting 11 for the fifth consecutive match after giving his backing to Carlos Edwards to start, as predicted by the Evening Star yesterday.

But the experienced manager admitted he has made mistakes this season – including when he made wholesale changes when Town were dumped out of the Carling Cup three days after opening the league campaign with a 3-0 win at Bristol City.

Jewell explained: “Sometimes when I look back to the game against Northampton, I wonder whether I made the right decision, changing the team around. But that is in hindsight – you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Ipswich will be looking to keep their fantastic run against the Bluebirds going, winning the last five matches including three straight 2-0 victories.

And looking ahead, Jewell added: “The next week is a big week. We have got ourselves into a nice little position and now we want to kick on. If we win three in a week, anything can happen.”