Peterborough United boss has tough selection decisions to make for Shrewsbury trip on a weekend which sees some big League One matches

A relentless run of games and an energy-sapping home pitch are testing the fitness of his players and there is unlikely to be a let-up before the scheduled end of the season at the beginning of May.

And the Posh promotion credentials will get a thorough test in a battle of two in-form sides at Shrewsbury on Saturday (January 30, 3pm).

The Shrews have won four and lost just one of their eight matches under new manager Steve Cotterill. All the wins have been by a 1-0 margin.

It’s likely Ferguson will stick with his senior players before resting many of them in next Tuesday’s (February 2) Papa John’s Trophy quarter-final on another difficult surface at Tranmere.

“I have tough decisions to make before every game,” Ferguson stated. “I have to be mindful of keeping players fresh, but it’s tough to leave players out who have been showing decent form like Siriki Dembele and Sammie Szmodics.

“I might freshen it up at Shrewsbury as that will be a very tough game. It’s vital we go into every game mentally switched on and ready for a physical battle.

“They have been excellent since Steve Cotterill took over as manager. They’ve had some great wins.

“They will be at it and well organised, and we will have to contend with all of that and play well ourselves to get the result we want.

“I watched their last game at Sunderland (a 1-0 defeat) and they played well.”

There is good news on the injury front with Joe Ward expected to return after a thigh problem. He could replace Idris Kanu at right wing-back with Harrison Burrows possibly replacing Dan Butler in the left-wing back role.

Posh certainly won’t be changing the three centre-backs, who have been excellent in recent games, for a match against a side they thrashed 5-1 at the Weston Homes Stadium when Siriki Dembele claimed a hat-trick.

“We’ve kept three clean sheets in our last four matches and that’s vital as I always expect us to nick a goal.

“The centre-backs have been so strong lately, Christy Pym is hardly having to make a save.

“Full credit to my players for the way they have coped with a difficult season so far, but there is still a long way to go and there will be so many twists and turns, and changes to the league table, as the games are just coming around so quickly.”

Possible Posh team

(3-4-2-1)

Pym

Kent, Thompson, Beevers

Ward, Brown, Taylor, Burrows

Szmodics, Dembele.

Clarke-Harris.

There are some big League One games on Saturday as fourth-placed Doncaster travel to leaders Lincoln City and sixth-placed Charlton host fifth-placed Portsmouth.