Neil Warnock believes that his Palace players will enter the final seven games of the season under absolutely no pressure to gain promotion.

Following Saturday's trip to his native Sheffield to face relegation-threatened Wednesday, the Eagles' remaining away games sees them face promotion hopefuls Stoke City, Watford and Hull City.

But Warnock believes this can work in Palace's favour.

"The four away games are Wednesday followed by Stoke, Watford and Hull," he said. "They're great away games all against teams with something to play for. That's what you want at this time of the year.

"It's a fabulous run-in because the likes of Stoke, Watford and Hull have all got massive expectations now.

"Apart from Hull, who have been on a great run, they've all been up there for most of the season.

"It will be interesting to go to places where the other teams are under more pressure to win than ourselves.

"From our point of view we can play with freedom because nobody expected us to be where we are.

"The pressure was for us to stay up and to do that while bringing the kids through is great. We've brought through six 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old this season - it's not bad going.

"It doesn't feel like we're close to the play-offs because we're just enjoying it as, according to everybody when I came here, we shouldn't be where we are at the moment.

"We don't feel any pressure. I don't feel the players do, which is an advantage at this time of the year."

The trip to Hillsborough is one that Warnock will relish, even though his status as a former Sheffield United manager will diminish the goodwill he is likely to receive on the day.

"I always get a good welcome - as you would imagine," he joked. "I will go up and see a lot of old friends over the weekend and there will be a lot of banter.

"Hillsborough was the first stadiun I went to as a kid. I remember the floodlights and it had a fabulous atmosphere.

"In those days I used to stand at the Kop and mingle with the Wednesday-ites - there wasn't any segregation and trouble back then.

"It will be great to go back as manager. Sheffield Wednesday is a great club and I hope they stay in the division.

"They have done really well in the last few home games. The crowd get behind their players - especially when the teams is managed by me!

"Having me as a manager will probably be a disadvantage for my lads because normally Crystal Palace going to Sheffield Wednesday wouldn't be a massive game.

"It's an interesting game because there's so much pressure on them to stay in the Championship.

"Wednesday have done well but they still find themselves in the bottom three. There are a lot of big clubs around Wednesday - teams like Leicester, Southampton and Norwich - who would not have expected to be in that area.

"There's a lot of nervousness and we just have to look after ourselves."

Paul Ifill, whose season has been disrupted with a back problem, is a doubt for the game after coming off at half time with an ankle injury in Wednesday night's 2-1 reserve victory against Brighton.

However, midfielder Neil Danns and defender Tony Craig came through the game unscathed and should be available for selection.

Victor Moses and Danny Butterfield (both thigh) are unlikely to be fit in time for the trip.