Gunter says Royals pride themselves on their physical shape and that no other Championship team comes close in that department.

And he is confident it will be a telling factor during the promotion run-in with 15 matches left, starting with Blackburn Rovers at home this Saturday.

Gunter told the Chronicle: “I think the work we do on the training ground on a Monday to Friday will be massive for us come the end of the season.

“We’ve got a squad capable of getting around the pitch and I think we will be able to use that mobility in our legs to our advantage.

“We take pride in how hard we work. I know every club will say the same, but our staff really look into these things.

“It’s not just a case of training hard, you have to be smart with it as well.”

Royals boss Nigel Adkins made a change to his backroom staff in October when he replaced sports scientist Karl Halabi with his former fitness expert at Southampton, Nick Harvey.

Along with head physio Luke Anthony and a string of support staff, they will ensure Royals are in top shape for the crucial last months of the season.

Wales international Gunter, 24, added: “The training we do is unbelievable, it’s geared towards being as fit and fresh as possible for matchdays.

“It could be a key factor in the season and it’s a massive credit to the staff that at this stage we really look as though we’re coming on strong.

“There won’t be a team better prepared than us.”

Gunter’s words may rile some of Reading’s chief promotion rivals, but Nigel Adkins’ team looked fitter than Queens Park Rangers’ richly-assembled side during last weekend’s memorable 3-1 win at Loftus Road.

What made it more impressive was the fact Gunter and his team-mates competed with 10 men for nearly the whole match the previous weekend when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday.

Royals also finished Sunday’s hoops derby in west London with 10 men following Kaspars Gorkss’ dismissal, but still prevented Rangers from scoring a second goal.

“It was disappointing to lose to Sheffield Wednesday last week but we pinpointed Sunday’s game as a chance to bounce back and we did it in style,” declared Gunter.

“I don’t really go along with six-pointers but, when you play teams around you in the table, it’s important to pick up three points. We’ve done okay in that respect. We won at Derby County and Nottingham Forest and now we’ve won at QPR.

“We’ve still got some teams just below and above us to play before the end of the season so it’s important to remember that.

“On top of that, those clubs also in the mix have to play each other so there are going to be a lot more twists and turns.

“We could move up or down a few positions but the important thing is we’re where we want to be come the end of the season.

“It was a really good win and the important thing now is to enjoy it as we look ahead to this Saturday.”

With Kaspars Gorkss eligible to play after seeing his red card rescinded, Royals are likely to name an unchanged team for the eighth match in a row.

Adkins’ men drew 0-0 at Ewood Park in November. Former transfer target Jordan Rhodes will start up front for Gary Bowyer’s Rovers.