Richard ready to Stear Wolves across the line

Richard Stearman claims "the end is in sight" for Wolves – but admits there's still work to do to cross the finishing line.

Tomorrow's visit of Peterborough gives Kenny Jackett's side the chance to take another big step towards automatic promotion.

Posh were one of the sides that left Wolves trailing in their wake in the first couple of months of the season.

But with a storming run of 12 wins and two draws in their last 15 games, Wolves are within a maximum 10 points of a return to the Championship.

"The end is in sight certainly but there are a few games left and we've got to pick up more points because we're not quite there yet," said Stearman.

"We're going to do our best to pick up three points tomorrow to take another big step towards where we want to be."

One end which definitely is in sight is the intensity of Wolves' gruelling schedule, as tomorrow's game sees them complete an exhausting spell of nine games in 28 days.

Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Stevenage signalled the end of the midweek fixtures for this season.

The final six games are more spaced out apart from the potential 'deciders' on Good Friday at home to Rotherham and Easter Monday at Leyton Orient.

Despite the hectic spell, Wolves have won five and drew two of those crammed eight so far to earn head coach Kenny Jackett the manager of the month award for March, and you won't find any complaints from Stearman.

"We had a lot of games in March but we've really enjoyed it," he said.

"If you ask any player, they want to be out there playing as opposed to training.

"We've got our preparation and recovery right and you can see in the performances and the points we keep picking up that it's do-able."

Another sub-plot to tomorrow's encounter is that Wolves can equal another club record to go with the new markers set this campaign for consecutive wins (nine) and away wins (14).

A 23rd clean sheet of the season in the league would match the milestone set in 1923-24, although Mark Kendall's 28 in 1987-88 is Wolves' the best in all competitions.

It's one Stearman, as a defender, would be very proud of.

"It's one of several records we've got in sight but for a defender, the clean sheets one is one we're very proud of," said the former Leicester man.

"We want to be out there on our own with that milestone and hopefully we've got a few more to come.

"I've been very pleased with the way I've played and I'm very proud to be part of a defence that's performed so well.

"It's not just myself, but the boys alongside me have done fantastically well as well.

"We lost Matt Doherty who has been a big part of it as well, certainly at the start of the season, as has Aaron McCarey keeping a few clean sheets as well.

"But in the main it's been the same five at the back and you can see how we play together and the stats we've produced have shown how well we've done defensively."

However, Stearman and Wolves' proud defensive record would appear to come under its greatest threat tomorrow.

Peterborough's attack is led by the League One's top scorer Britt Assombalonga, who has bagged 29 goals this season.

Posh used the £6m they received for the sale of Dwight Gayle to Crystal Palace last summer wisely, with Assombalonga proving a snip from Jackett's old club Watford.

And Jackett believes the acquisition of the 21-year-old, who started his career at Brentford and spent last season on loan at Southend from Vicarage Road, is a typical example of Posh's shrewdness in the transfer market.

"Barry Fry said that when they sold Gayle they invested £2m of it on transfer fees on new players," said the Wolves boss.

"Last summer they sold Gayle and bought Assombalonga.

"Peterborough have a good model - they've bought and sold very well over the years.

"They've given a lot of people a chance from lower down and polished them up, which is a good asset to have and as a manager in Darren Ferguson.

"The test for them is they just haven't been able to stay in the Championship.

"They've gone down two out of three years but the owner (Darragh MacAnthony) started by putting some money in initially and then on the back of the sales of Craig Mackhail-Smith and Aaron Mclean, he just wheeled and dealed."

Peterborough have had a day less to prepare than Wolves, having beaten Colchester 2-0 on Wednesday night.

That result seemed to suggest there has been no hangover from the 3-1 win over Chesterfield in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley last weekend.

That Wembley trip was an antedote for their relegation with Wolves last season.

And Jackett believes Posh were the unluckiest team in the Championship last term.

"They had a great run in the second half of last season and were genuinely unlucky to get relegated," he said.

"They had 54 points so to go down in those circumstances is tough.

"They've turned around very well because sometimes going down like that can hit a club.

"Barring one player (Gayle) they've kept the side and they look as if they've recruited very well again which is a strength of theirs.

"They're still in the top six and they'll be looking to bounce straight back to the Championship."