This time Walsall's Byfield is for keeps

This time Darren Byfield is playing for keeps and admits even injury isn't go to take his starting place off him as Walsall head to Huddersfield.

The Saddlers go to the play-off chasing Terriers after Saturday's fightback victory over Tranmere – thanks to Byfield's second half winner.

It was his ninth goal of a hit and miss season for the striker, who recently admitted his divorce to pop star wife Jamelia had a damaging affect his form.

But, after starting the last three games and passing a late fitness test to play against Rovers at the weekend, Byfield has begun to fire again and wants to play a massive part in the final five games.

He said: "I've always been a player wants to play. I will sulk if I'm not playing, I'll sulk for the first 10 minutes and then get behind the team.

"When I'm not playing I hate it and can't understand why any professional footballer wouldn't want to play.

"Through injuries or your form it's up to you to get yourself in the side and then when you are you want to stay in there."

Byfield is still revelling in his winning strike on Saturday – coming after Manny Smith had scored at both ends – and feels it was a slice of luck which had deserted him in recent weeks.

He said: "It's always nice, especially when it's the winner. We battled hard, got our foot in and deserved the three points.

"You do need a little bit of luck. I can look back on the games where I should have easily got a goal. I could have got one against Stockport and you just hope it drops for you.

"It could have easily come off his thigh or leg and not go in on Saturday."

With the Saddlers comfortably lying 13th in the table, Byfield has urged his team-mates to relax against a Huddersfield side who have lost just once at home in League One all season.

He said: "If you can't enjoy your games now you'll never be able to enjoy them. We're going to a great stadium tonight and hopefully we can pick up three points.

"They will be a little nervous if they don't score in the first 20-25 minutes and it's up to us to go there, enjoy it and play how we know we can."

Troy Deeney is available after suspension, but Alex Nicholls is a doubt after limping off with a calf injury late on Saturday.

Sam Parkin is also in contention but Byfield admits, with the options available, his uncertainty at who manager Chris Hutchings will pick.

He said: "When the gaffer is playing two strikers, he plays Troy or Parky with the likes of myself or Nics. Some people might have thought he would play Parky with me on Saturday but clever strikers can play together. Me and Nics both have pace and we can run in behind.

"It's nothing to do with me, I just hope I'm playing. You want to be in the team yourself and that's what the gaffer gets paid for.

"I don't know what he's going to do."

Walsall defender Rhys Weston is a doubt with a hamstring problem, but Byfield has assured the fans and management of his fitness ahead of the final five games.

He said: "I'm feeling good, I was a little worried not because of the injury but because I hadn't trained all week. I was thinking I was going to tire on Saturday but I felt strong.

"It was bone bruising which can be really painful and comfortable but I told our assistant Martin O'Connor I was a soldier."

With Huddersfield reeling from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Brentford, Walsall manager Chris Hutchings expects the promotion race to go to the wire – with his men out to upset the challengers.

He said: "It's going to go to the last game of the season, I can't see it being settling in the next two or three games. The scenarios will be here, there and everywhere.

"It's who has got the bottle, it doesn't matter how you get the win it's a matter of staying in that play-off position, but we can have a say in it.

"Huddersfield got beaten on Saturday it goes to show anyone can beat anyone.

"It's going to be a tough game but one we're ready for."

But the Saddlers will face a Huddersfield side hurting from their heavy defeat in London and boss Clark has demanded an instant reaction.

He said: "We have got to turn this around tonight without a doubt.

"We were very disappointed with what happened at Brentford, but we went back to work yesterday morning and we now need to produce a strong performance and a positive result tonight."