WHATEVER Middlesbrough team Tony Pulis sends out at Portman Road on Sunday will be told to treat it as if they are still fighting for a play-off place in the Championship.

That was the message from the Boro boss when he delivered his pre-match press conference at Rockliffe Park, knowing how his side are assured of a top six spot already.

There is still a chance Middlesbrough could drop to sixth – meaning a semi-final tie with Fulham or Cardiff rather than Aston Villa – but that will only be on the cards if they lose at Ipswich and Derby record a three-goal swing.

The only slight doubts Pulis has going into the game are the niggles Mo Besic, Stewart Downing and Daniel Ayala are carrying, although all three are expected to train before making the trip to Suffolk.

“We have a few knocks and niggles, but I think everyone will be fit for the game. It’s whether one or two will need a rest, I will decide that closer to the game,” said Pulis.

“It’s an important game, about keeping the momentum going as much as anything else. It’s important the players approach it in the right manner, we have a responsibility to the supporters who will be down there.

“We will get this game out of the way, then we will know who we will have, then prepare for five days before the next one.

“If you go into a game of football pulling out of challenges, no effort, that’s most probably a way you would get injured or when something could go wrong. And if people pay good money to go down and watch a game, then we will have a responsibility to them.

“Generally this week it’s about who is ready and then we will pick a team, hopefully go to Portman Road and play well. We have to make sure everything is on this game then after that we will focus on a good performance in those two (semi-final) games.”

Middlesbrough head to Ipswich on the back of three consecutive victories that has guaranteed a play-off place, so the onus will be on maintaining those standards ahead of the mouthwatering end of season battle for promotion to the Premier League.

Ipswich, considering Chris Coleman following his sacking last week at Sunderland, have nothing to play for other than pride, sitting mid-table and managerless following Mick McCarthy’s decision to leave after criticism from the club’s supporters.

Pulis said: “I get on well with Mick. Ipswich is a great football club, with all the history of Sir Bobby Robson, he was there when I was a young kid, and all the great players they have had.

“I thought Mick was doing a great job there with the resources he had to work with, and we will see who the next manager is and see how he does there.

“There comes a time when supporters get fed up with you and they want change, they want a different direction. Where that direction is and leas you we will see …. but I thought Mick did a good job.”