Last Updated: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:52
Dave Jones has urged striker Robbie Fowler not to lie about his fitness just to secure a place in Cardiff's FA Cup final squad.
The Bluebirds boss has been without the prolific former Liverpool and England forward since December, but he has been back in training and is raring to feature against Portsmouth at Wembley on Saturday.
However, despite Fowler's declaration that he is fit and ready, Jones will give him until Thursday to prove it and pleaded with him not to lie and run the risk of being ruled out for another lengthy spell in order to feature in City's first FA Cup final since 1927.
"We have to make sure that everything about him is right. The only person that will give me that knowledge is Robbie himself," he said.
"Robbie has been around football long enough to be honest and truthful and say, 'look, yes I am fine' and at the moment that's what he's saying and in training he looks fine.
"But he has to be honest with me and say, 'look, there's no niggles, there's nothing' because I don't want to lose him for another three or four months just for the sake of one game - I know it's the biggest game, but for one game.
"It's important that he is right for that game as much as he will be for the rest of his playing career."