Former Leeds United attacker Noel Whelan insists he does not want the nervousness of the playoffs in the Championship.
After looking good bets for automatic promotion to the Premier League, Leeds are now in the thick of a scrap with Chris Wilder's Sheffield United for second place.
They dropped to third on goal difference on Good Friday after losing at home against Wigan Athletic and now have three further games to get the better of the Blades and go up.
Failure to finish in the top two would mean needing to navigate the playoffs and that is something Whelan is keen for the Whites to make sure they avoid.
"It's a really competitive four that's up there at the minute in the playoff spots", Whelan told BBC Radio Leeds after the Wigan loss.
"I wouldn't want to go through the playoffs.
"You'd rather be celebrating come the Ipswich game, if not before, that we are there.
"But we are making hard work of it. You don't want us to lose that belief, that confidence.
"We've done so well up to this point but we need to find that belief and character now, off the back of a really big defeat at home to Wigan."
Whelan says that if Leeds do miss out on automatic promotion then they will need to show big mental strength. However, the former White is in no doubt about the thrill a successful day out at Wembley would bring.
"It would be demoralising to not go up automatic and know that you're in the playoffs and you've got really, really important games.
"But if you are, you are, and you've got to show that character and strength of mind, and do it the hard way. And the good way, a trip to Wembley, is a great way of getting promotion."
Fulham won promotion through the playoffs last season after finishing third, just two points off second.
