The focus for Sunday is very much on the fourth tier of English football as Cheltenham and Crewe do battle at Wembley to earn the right to play in League One next season.
It is perhaps something of a surprise that these two will be striding out at Wembley given the fact that they finished the regular season in sixth and seventh place respectively.
However, the sides are there on merit with Cheltenham easing past Torquay 4-1 on aggregate and, although the scoreline was much tighter, Crewe missed a number of chances to wrap up a convincing victory as they saw off Southend 3-2 on aggregate.
Having led 1-0 from the first-leg, the Alex should really have sealed their Wembley place long before Southend equalised on the night and, although it set up a frantic finale, that could just work in their favour come Sunday.
Crewe have been installed as very marginal favourites in the match betting as they are priced at 8/5, with Cheltenham a shade bigger at 17/10, while the draw is on offer at 12/5.
Cheltenham have been a surprise package this season, having started their League Two campaign as one of the market leaders for relegation, but defied the critics to make it to the play-offs.
Perhaps not one of the highest scorers in the divsion, the Robins were strong defensively at home – conceding just 16 goals – making life difficult for visiting teams at Whaddon Road.
The manner of their victory over Torquay was also impressive, winning 2-0 at home and 2-1 away, which should give them confidence after going into the play-offs with some indifferent form.
Crewe by contrast are enjoying an 18-match unbeaten streak which stretches back to February 18, gaining revenge for that loss by getting the better of Southend in the semi-finals.
A fair number of those games have been draws though, 10 in total with eight wins, but they should also be full of confidence as they have scored in every game since that defeat at Roots Hall.
What is also in the Alex’s favour is the fact that they won both regular season meetings between the two sides, winning 1-0 at Whaddon Road in October – albeit with an injury-time penalty – while the 1-0 at home came just three matches before the end of the season.
Those two matches suggest that Sunday’s clash could be a tight affair, although there is the obvious difference that this game takes place on the hallowed turf of Wembley in front of the cameras in a final.
Defender Luke Garbutt is available for Cheltenham after being released by England Under-19s after recovering from a hamstring problem, and he could displace the man who replaced him against Torquay – Keith Lowe.
Crewe are also able to welcome back a player as midfielder Luke Murphy has recovered from his own hamstring injury to give boss Steve Davis a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Jermaine McGlashan has hit form at the right time for the Robins with a goal in both legs of the semi-final and is on offer at 10/1 to score first/last and 11/4 anytime, although the big game atmosphere might bring the best out of Crewe’s Nick Powell.
The 18-year-old has been in fine form for the Railwaymen this term with 14 goals, and his displays have got the Premier League big guns circling for his services with Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton all linked with a move.
Providing he can handle the occasion, Powell looks a good shout at 11/2 First/Last Goalscorer and 3/2 Anytime, in what has been an effective partnership with AJ Leitch-Smith (6/1 and 13/8).
Cheltenham have not lost a play-off game in their history with five wins and three draws previously, but Powell can provide the key to unlock the Robins’ defence and seal promotion for the Alex.
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