Jones ready for the challenge from struggling Wycombe

Luton boss Nathan Jones is ready for the physical test his side will be faced with when they head to bottom of the league Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

The Chairboys warmed up for the match by winning both of their games over the Easter period, 1-0 over Blackburn Rovers on Good Friday and then defeating fellow strugglers Rotherham United 3-0 on Easter Monday.

Two of Wanderers’ goals against the Millers came from long balls launched forward by keeper David Stockdale, with Adebayo Akinfenwa’s presence setting up opportunities for Admiral Muskwe and David Wheeler that they took to boost their side's chances of staying up.

However, Luton have never lost at Adams Park in their history, with their 14 previous visits leading to seven wins and seven draws, as Jones said: “You know you are going to be tested physically when you come up against Wycombe but we have a good record there and we have strengths of our own.

“If we turn up and we’re at it like we normally are then it will be a tough game for Wycombe as well.

“We’re a good side and we have a very good record against Wycombe, so we would like to continue that.

“We know the strengths that Wycombe pose, as do every Championship side, but also we are part of that Championship and we have strengths of our own, so we will be looking to exploit those.”

Jones is also well aware just what is at stake for the Wanderers, who trail safety by nine points, 10 in all reality due to an awful goal difference, with just six games of their own to play.

At this stage of the previous season, Luton were in a similar situation at the bottom, although luckily were only three points adrift, as he continued: “The ironic thing is we were in that position last year so we know the motivation, we know what we did to teams last year and we have to get that back.

"I don’t think Wycombe will be any more motivated than the fact that, one they need the points, two there is a good healthy rivalry between the two clubs.

"We know it is going to be a tough game, as it always is when we play Wycombe.”

Led by Gareth Ainsworth, the Chairboys have developed a rivalry against Luton over the years, as they met with regularity during their League One and Two days.

The second tier had looked a step too far for most of the campaign until recently when a run of three wins and a draw from five games saw Wycombe give themselves an unlikely lifeline.

Jones added: “It has been tough for Wycombe because like us, they have had a very good rise.

"They came up in the same year (from League Two), we’re ahead of them in terms of we have had a year in the Championship and they haven’t but Gareth has done a wonderful job.

"What we lack in terms of us, Wycombe, and teams like Coventry, we can't compete budget wise but what we have had is a real continuity, a real good spirit and a real team ethic that carries you a certain level.

"What we have to make sure is that it carries us to that level, we keep that and then we display a little bit of quality to win games.

"Wycombe are similar to us in lots and lots of ways and it is always going to be tough the first year.

"Second year I wouldn’t say is slightly easier but what it is, you have a little bit more experience and we’re slightly more experienced because we competed with them at League Two level, we went up at the same time and then they’ve had an extra year in League One, whereas we have had an extra year in the Championship.

"There are real parallels between the clubs, a great rivalry but great respect between the managers.

"It is always an interesting fixture and a very tough for one for both sides, not just us.”