Gary Jones admits his latest individual accolade will count for nothing if City don’t go up.

The skipper and driving force behind Phil Parkinson’s side was named this week in the PFA League Two team of the season – the second time in his career he has been selected in the vote by fellow professionals.

But Jones, who had also been shortlisted for the division’s player of the year, insists the only prize that matters is promotion.

City play the 62nd game of their colossal campaign tonight with the play-off semi-final opener against Burton.

The evergreen 35-year-old has appeared in 51 of them – and is all geared up to go again for the make-or-break contests ahead.

Jones said: “It’s quite an incredible achievement for us to be anywhere near the play-offs. Most of the lads have played nearly every game.

“But we’ve got a great squad with the right attitude and we’re raring to go. It’s a three-game season now and Valley Parade will be bouncing.”

Jones is only the 11th City player in the 40-year history of the Professional Footballers’ Association awards to be named in the team of the year. Omar Daley was the last in 2009 and before that you had to go back to Darren Moore a decade earlier in the Premiership promotion season.

Jones, who was also picked in the 2009 team with Rochdale, added: “It’s a nice touch to get accolades off your fellow pros but football’s a team game.

“When a team’s doing well, you sometimes get individual acknowledgements. I wouldn’t have got it without the help of the other players, the management and the supporters. But I’d swap anything for promotion.

“This club have been in League Two for far too long and hopefully we’ve now got the chance to do something about it.

“We sneaked in the back door (of the play-offs). The lads are full of confidence and on a decent run.

“Nobody gave us a chance after the Exeter game but we’ve put a great run together.

“We know Burton are going to be a very tough team to beat. They finished seven points above us and have got the best home record in the league. But we’re really confident. The training has been great with lads flying around everywhere and we’re ready for it.”

Jones believes fitness coach Nick Allamby has been the unsung hero behind the scenes as City whittled away an eight-point gap on the play-offs to qualify with a game to spare.

“Nick has done an incredible job with the lads. He gets the balance absolutely perfect between when we should be training and when to give us a rest.

“The lads have looked unbelievably fit over the last month or so and I think that’s the main reason we sneaked in to seventh.”

Victory over Burton confirmed City’s play-off spot but Jones is reading little into that result. The Brewers played the whole second half with ten men after skipper Lee Bell was red-carded.

“They had a man sent off after 45 minutes which probably spoiled the game a little bit but Burton will be full of confidence like us.

“They are a good side and manager Gary Rowett has done an excellent job considering where they finished last season.”

Jones was given a breather at Cheltenham along with seven others to stay fresh for tonight. He would love to mark his return with a goal - having not scored since November.

“It’s well overdue,” he said. “I’d love to get one in the play-offs but the main thing is a decent lead to take into the second leg.

“With their home record, we’ve got to make sure we at least don’t go to Burton in deficit.

“We’re in the play-offs on merit. As they say, you’ve got to be in it to win it and we’ve got a great chance.”

The ticket office will be open until 5pm but City fans can also pay at the gate. There will be turnstiles dedicated for cash admission in the Midland Road and main stands and the Kop.