NEWPORT County AFC may have had a settled side for the League Two run-in but defensive rock Mickey Demetriou knows it will take a squad effort to earn promotion.

The Exiles face Forest Green Rovers in the first leg of the semi-finals on Tuesday (kick-off 8.15pm) before heading to Nailsworth the following Sunday.

The target is a Wembley showdown against either Tranmere Rovers or Morecambe on Monday, May 31.

County finished the regular season strongly with manager Michael Flynn naming the same side for five games on the spin.

That meant on final afternoon at Southend the boss had a strong bench featuring goalkeeper Nick Townsend and defender Matty Dolan, two of the star performers of the campaign, former Wales midfielder Joe Ledley, Malta international Luke Gambin and the vastly experienced Ryan Taylor, Nicky Maynard and Kevin Ellison.

Before the matchday 18 headed out for their warm-up at Roots Hall the trio of David Longe-King, Jake Scrimshaw and Dom Telford were put through their paces, while Priestley Farquharson is fit again after an ankle injury.

Captain Joss Labadie needs to recover from a badly cut knee but it would be a surprise if Flynn makes changes on Tuesday.

05.12.20 - Newport County v Morecambe - Sky Bet League 2 - Mickey Demetriou of Newport County heads away from goal.

05.12.20 - Newport County v Morecambe - Sky Bet League 2 - Mickey Demetriou of Newport County heads away from goal.

However, Demetriou knows that there is quality if needed outside the lucky ones that will make the teamsheet.

“It’s been a massive team effort throughout the duration of the season, it’s a 46-game season and no one is going to play every single game, but everyone’s got to chip in when they can,” said the centre-back, who played in all but one league game.

“It’s not about the starting eleven, it’s not about the 18-man squad. We’ve got good players that are out of the squad at the moment and they’re chomping at the bit, waiting for their chance.”

Demetriou is one of the survivors from the 2019 team that made it to Wembley when beaten controversially by Tranmere, when County were denied a late penalty and then conceded right at the end of extra time.

“It hurt two years ago and took us a long time to get over but we’re professional footballers, we had to get over it and not dwell on the past,” said the defender.

Nor have County lamented what might have been after seeing hopes of automatic promotion dashed by a winter slump.

They led the way in January but needed a strong finish to avoid dropping out of the top-seven, finishing six points behind third-placed Bolton.

Newport Countys Mickey Demetriou (right) and Cheltenham Towns Indiana Vassilev battle for the ball during the Sky Bet League Two match at Rodney Parade, Newport. Issue date: Saturday May 1, 2021.

Newport County's Mickey Demetriou (right) and Cheltenham Town's Indiana Vassilev battle for the ball during the Sky Bet League Two match at Rodney Parade, Newport. Issue date: Saturday May 1, 2021.

“If we had carried on with the season the way it started, we could’ve been done by now,” said Demetriou.

“We knew we put in performances that didn’t warrant us being in that top three and we just had to make sure that performance we put in the last month or so warrants us staying in the play-offs and we’ve done that.

“We went through a bad patch but managed to find out way out of it, we always do.

“We didn’t want to be one of those teams that aren’t going to be playing for another month, we wanted to make sure that we stayed in the play-offs to ensure that we stayed at least an extra two weeks, hopefully we can make it three.

“We’re buzzing that we made the play-offs but it’s just beginning again.”