Fleetwood boss Joey Barton prepares for "the best of Wycombe"

Joey Barton says his Fleetwood side are preparing to face “the best of Wycombe” in the play-offs in 12 days.

Town, now into their third week of training, were in far more consistent form than their semi-final opponents before lockdown.

While Barton’s side go into the two-legged showdown on a 12-match unbeaten run and having lost only one League One game in 17, Wycombe won three and lost their other three during February.

Since losing 1-0 to Fleetwood at Adams Park on February 11, Gareth Ainsworth’s Chairboys beat relegated Bolton Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers, then lost last time out at Doncaster Rovers.

Despite this mixed recent record, Wycombe’s game in hand in a very tight promotion race saw them leap five places to third when the final table was determined by points-per-game.

Barton is expecting the most severe of tests when Highbury hosts the opening leg on Friday, July 3.

Town’s head coach told BBC Radio Lancashire: “We are going to have to sacrifice and there will be moments when our teamship and our togetherness are tested, certainly by Wycombe.

“I know Gaz Ainsworth, a great lad, a competitor as a player and his team have been an absolute credit to him.

“In promotion from League Two last year they acquitted themselves superbly and they have kicked on again this year.

“They were sitting in the top tier of the table for pretty much the whole season.

“You don’t sit up there if you’re lucky – you sit up there on merit and the PPG has seen them catapult to third. They are there on their teamship.

“So we are preparing for the best of them.

“We expect a very, very difficult fixture home and away and we are going to have to be as near to our best as we possibly can be and reach our level of performance.

“If we do that we’ll give a great account of ourselves.”

The play-off semi-finals against Wycombe may be behind closed doors but Fleetwood fans will be able to see themselves at the first leg on July 3.

Supporters can order cut-outs to be placed in the Highbury stands for the big match.

Fans wishing to get involved need only email a photograph of themselves to [email protected]

Prices are £20 for a half-body print and £35 for full-body.