Hughes desperate for encore

His intelligent promptings from central midfield have provided the ammunition for the fleet-footed youngsters Andrew Johnson, Julian Gray and Wayne Routledge.

Hughes, who spent three years at West Ham in the mid-1990s, is looking forward to pitting his wits against his former club at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday week.

"I loved it at West Ham," he said. "They are a smashing club with fantastic, knowledgeable fans who were always good to me. I will always be grateful to Harry Redknapp for taking me there. He was a good manmanagerand knew his football. It's nice that it's against my old club. I probably won't fully appreciate it until both sets of fans are in Cardiff. The fact that it's a London derby makes it extra special.

"We have nothing to fear. We know it's going to be a tough game - they have a lot of experienced players who have been in the Premiership - but we are a good side and we are going to be hard to play against."

Hughes believes Palace's unexpected rise from fourth bottom in December has been a "massive achievement" but says it will soon be forgotten if they lose in Cardiff.

"We want to go all the way and get promoted," he said. "We won't accept anything else.

"The belief here is incredible. Every single player is pulling for each other. I don't think I have ever been at a club where it's been like that. A lot of that is down to Iain Dowie. We are working a lot harder and are fitter, but I don't think that's the whole thing. John Harbin is very good at the mental side, getting people to think about what they are doing and producing the goods in games."

Few at the club are in a better position than the 66-cap Northern Ireland international to run the rule over Dowie's managerial skills.

"He is very good with players," said Hughes. "We know where we stand. If something needs to be said, he says it. He is good at keeping players happy who aren't in the team.

"Iain is passionate and it rubs off on other people. Added to that, he has a great knowledge of football and tactics.

"He is methodical and leaves no stone unturned about the opposition. As players, everything is done for us.

"We just have to listen to what we are being told. It's early in his Palace career but what he has done so far is incredible. I have no doubt that he will be a top Premiership manager."

Hughes admits it is something of a "fairytale" to be playing in such a high-profile match after his nightmare last season, when he did not play a single game because of a contract dispute between Wimbledon and Birmingham.

But he added: "The plus side of missing a year's football is that it could extend my career by two or three seasons. I had a chance to recuperate and for all those knocks and injuries to go away."

Hughes believes Palace have enough quality to stay in the Premiership if they are promoted.

"The Premiership is a definite step up in quality but I don't think we would have anything to fear. Far from it, it's exciting. I think the club could handle it.

"Why not? The aim of every player is to test themselves against the best."