Alan Pardew claims West Ham's relish for important matches can see them overcome Ipswich to reach the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final.

Pardew's men approach the semi-final second leg at Portman Road as outsiders after throwing away a two-goal lead in the first leg at home to draw 2-2 with Joe Royle's side.

But after winning at Ipswich - as well as at champions Sunderland and at second-placed Wigan - during the regular Championship season, Pardew is confident his side have the ability to deliver.

"We have shown this season that we like the big occasions," he said. "And that can only be a positive thing going into a game as tense as this.

"We have won at some tough places this season, where we have had to show a lot of character and spirit, and I am confident we will respond in the right way."

Pardew is expected to make few changes to the side that played brilliantly for a half at Upton Park on Saturday before conceding the initiative to Ipswich after the break.

Mark Noble - the young midfielder who has been the find of the season for West Ham - could be included from the start at Portman Road.

If Noble were named in the starting XI, Pardew would be likely to switch to a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Marlon Harewood as a lone striker and Bobby Zamora on the bench.

West Ham overcame Ipswich in last year's semi-finals before playing poorly and losing 1-0 against Crystal Palace in the Cardiff final.

Pardew is determined that his team will never again produce such dismal form in a vital match.

He continued: "I think there is only one occasion since I arrived at the club that we have not performed on the big stage. That was in the play-off final last season, and it is something we don't intend to repeat.

"The most important thing is to win and to go through to the final. Nothing else matters to us, and we are thinking of nothing else."

Pardew told West Ham's official website: "Our preparation over the last few days has been really positive, and we are going into it determined to do ourselves justice."

If West Ham lose, it will have been Czech defender Tomas Repka's last game for the club.

Repka has one more year to run on his contract, but he is one of the highest earners and, with West Ham a reported £30million in debt, he has agreed to leave in the summer.

It's going to be a big ask, but I think they can do it. They both (Ipswich & West Ham) have the team and individuals who can go out and score from nothing. It is important for both of these teams to get back in with the big boys of the Premiership, and who ever lose today will have another failure of a season. With players like Bent, Etherington, De Vos, Sheringham, Richards and Reo Coker playing you can see that both clubs have it in them to go out and score from nothing. In my opinion who ever go out and win today will also win in the Play-off final.