Leicester City have recharged their batteries during a warm weather training camp in Portugal and will need every ounce of energy for what promises to be a difficult final run-in.
City head into the final eight games of the season clinging on to a play-off spot on goal difference.
There is no question that if City do not arrest their recent slump of one win in nine league games, their dreams of promotion to the Premier League will have to wait for another year.
History would suggest they will need to win four of their final eight games at least to secure sixth spot.
Only once since the play-offs were introduced in the 1989-90 season has a side finished in the play-offs with less than 70 points – that was in the abnormal season of 1990-91 when Middlesbrough finished seventh on 69 and qualified.
In that year. four sides were promoted to the old First Division.
The lowest total that has been enough to finish in the top six since has been 70, achieved twice – Watford, in 2008, and Blackpool, in 2010.
A total of 71 as been enough on three occasions – Derby County in 1994, City in 1996, when they won the play-offs, and Crystal Palace the following season, when they also won promotion.
But the total required in the last two seasons has been 75 and City, who are currently on 59 points, would need to win five and draw one of the last eight, and that would be tough.
On paper, City face an incredibly tough run-in. Five of their eight games are against sides vying with them for a play-off spot.
After tomorrow's visit of Millwall, who will have one eye on their FA Cup semi-final day out, City travel to face relegation-threatened Barnsley on Easter Monday, but then they travel to Brighton, who are on the same points total as City in seventh.
After the visit of mid-table Birmingham, City then finish with games against improving Bolton, who are eighth and still in with a big shout of the play-offs, Crystal Palace, Watford and Nottingham Forest, who all occupy the other play-off spots.
As tough as the run-in looks, it may be a blessing in disguise for City. Nigel Pearson's men have lost five of their last nine, but all five were against sides in the bottom half – Peterborough, Charlton, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.
City's record against the top eight is mixed. They were unlucky to have only taken a point from two games against league leaders Cardiff, but have taken four against second-placed Hull. City have suffered defeats to Watford and Palace this season, but have drawn with Forest and beat Brighton earlier in the campaign.
The challenge of the run-in may bring out the best in City.
