Paul Hurst believes staying in League One will be a tougher task than the Championship for Shrewsbury

The boss, whose side battle Rotherham for a spot in the second tier for the first time in 29 years, admitted managing Town in the Championship would be ‘daunting’.

But Shrewsbury’s budget would be dwarfed by the division’s other 23 clubs, leaving Hurst confident that onlookers would acknowledge Town’s uphill task.

Whereas the Montgomery Waters Meadow chief confesses that disappointment on Sunday will lead to different struggles, such as a rising expectancy from fans and having to address his squad.

“Would it be daunting? Yes,” Hurst admitted. “What I would say is, sSometimes you’re put in a position, and certainly people within the game understand the position you’re in.

“If that happened, and if it was as tough as it looks on paper, in a lot of ways I don’t think it would change people’s opinion about myself or the football club.

“I think everyone would understand why it’s so challenging.

“Whereas I think the bigger challenge is if it doesn’t go right and trying again to manage that expectation of a season in League One.

“Playing against your Charltons, they need to do better – reaching the play-offs wasn’t enough for them.

“There’s other big clubs that should’ve been in our position. There’s the likes of Luton coming up, make no bones about it they’re not coming to make the numbers up.

“No disrespect to Accrington and Wycombe – especially Accrington as they won the league – but in terms of budget they’ll be up against it again.”

Loan players, including expected Wembley starters Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey and Carlton Morris, are unlikely to return to Shrewsbury.

“That’ll (going in League One again) be a bigger challenge overall, in some ways, maybe not in terms of the quality you’re facing week in, week out and the discrepancy between your budget and the other teams,” added Hurst.

“But I think we’d rather have that situation than the other one.”

The Town boss may be daunted by the prospect of Shrews in the Championship but it is one he will not shirk.

He said: “Do I want a narrow loss on Sunday so we can say ‘oh yes, at least we can compete a bit better and on a more even playing field’? No chance, not in a million years.

“It would be the biggest battle I’ve ever faced, without a shadow of a doubt.

“Last year was tough coming in and inheriting a team that was struggling to get results and clearly hadn’t got a bond or team ethic – but we managed to turn it around.

“I think that would pale into insignificance for the challenge that would be in front of us.”