Mick McCarthy believes being thrown into the Big Brother House or the jungle is the only way Norwich City’s players will avoid the play-off hype this week.

After Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final, rival boss Alex Neil claimed his squad would be shielded from the build-up to this Saturday’s shoot-out for Wembley, at Carrow Road (12.15pm KO).

But the Ipswich boss, who watched Paul Anderson cancel out Jonny Howson’s opener in an intense affair at Portman Road, said: “He’ll (Neil) have to put them in the Big Brother house then! I don’t think that’s going to happen. Maybe he could put them in the jungle for a week?

“I get the notion that you don’t want your players to get caught up in the hype, but it is what it is. You’re not telling me they won’t all be at home thinking about it every single day this week?

“Of course you guys (the media) will all be turning up again because it’s now one game from Wembley and we have to deal with all that.

“To be fair, I’ve got experienced guys, men in my team, and so have they. I don’t think either team looked worried by the occasion today (on Saturday).”

McCarthy has led the Blues to their first play-off campaign in a decade, having rescued the club from the bottom of the Championship table, soon after his arrival in late 2012.

Despite a poor record in play-off games, the former Millwall boss has guided Sunderland and Wolves to promotion, so can deal with big game pressure.

“It will be the normal preparation. In Monday, in Tuesday, off Wednesday,” he explained.”

“We’ll prepare like we’ve done all season.

“If we suddenly started doing something differently the players would wonder why and could become unhinged.”

Ando hails Blues boss Mick - inside