PETER JACKSON insists Town will respond to a hostile atmosphere at Sincil Bank on Saturday and stand toe-to-toe with Lincoln in a physical play-off battle.
Town's preparations for the semi-final first leg were in full swing today with John McAliskey back on duty after injury treatment and both Efe Sodje and Danny Schofield at the centre of operations.
After losing 3-1 at Lincoln in the regular season and winning 2-1 at home courtesy of Pawel Abbott's controversial `offside' goal, Jackson expects nothing other than a big, bruising match-up.
"Lincoln are very effective at what they do, they reached the play-off final last season and it's certainly not going to be an easy game," said Jackson today.
"They are very strong at set pieces because of their height, which is something we are working on, and they've got some very good individuals in their line-up.
"Ben Futcher has been outstanding and has improved a lot through the season - he's one to watch at free-kicks and corners - and Gary Fletcher can be a very dangerous and lively goal-getter.
"We go there, though, knowing we can beat anyone in this division on our day and, if we can keep it tight at the back, I know we've got the ability to win the game.
"Nothing will be decided this Saturday, of course, but we do want to make a good start in the tie knowing that we'll have 20,000 fans roaring us on at the McAlpine in the second leg next Wednesday."
Lincoln have extended the loan spell of Leicester's Kevin Ellison to the end of this month as manager Keith Alexander looks to go one better than last season's Cardiff defeat to Bournemouth.
Apart from Nathan Clarke, Ian Gray and Tony Carss (a 50-50 chance), Town are back to full strength and Jackson added:
"We are a very close squad of players and, having picked ourselves up from the disappointment of last weekend, we will all stick together.
"There have been some terrific letters of support from fans this week and it's given everyone a lift to see the big queues for tickets and realise how much this all means to people.
"Interest in this club is massive at the moment, everything is on a high and that's all credit to what the players have achieved in bringing us to this point."
