Rotherham United vs Shrewsbury Town. Sky Bet League One.
Wembley StadiumAttendance26,218.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football from 2.30pm on Sunday
Sunday 27 May 2018 16:54, UK
Rotherham face Shrewsbury in the Sky Bet League One play-off final at Wembley, with a place in the Championship as the prize for the winner.
Ahead of the massive encounter, which is live on Sky Sports Football from 2.30pm on Sunday, we provide you will all the team news, keys stats, manager quotes and predictions here...
Rotherham boss Paul Warne should have a healthy squad at his disposal as his side seek an immediate return to the Championship.
Warne has admitted a couple of unnamed players have been carrying knocks - but doubts they are severe enough to disrupt his plans.
"I have a couple of little tweaks - nothing major really," he said ahead of the game. "I saw that Aston Villa called their training off the other day because it got feisty. It was a bit like that - not in a bad way, but everyone's trying to impress. Hopefully the team, without any problems, is in my head."
Michael Smith led the line in both semi-final fixtures against Scunthorpe and should start again but if Warne opts for two up front, David Ball and Caolan Lavery are options.
Shrewsbury will be without long-term absentees Abu Ogogo and Junior Brown but Paul Hurt has no new problems.
Jon Nolan and Carlton Morris were respective matchwinners in two 1-0 wins over Charlton in the semi-finals and are set to link up again, with Shaun Whalley and Alex Rodman providing threat from the flanks.
Shrewsbury are featuring in their third Football League play-off final - they lost their previous two, both in League Two in 2006-07 and 2008-09.
Rotherham are also set to play their third play-off final - they lost in League Two to Dagenham & Redbridge in 2009-10 but won on penalties in League One against Leyton Orient in 2013-14 under Steve Evans.
In six of the last seven play-off finals in the third tier between the sides finishing third and fourth, the side finishing fourth has been promoted, although the exception was the most recent clash (Preston 4-0 Swindon, 2015).
Rotherham were winless in 11 consecutive matches in all competitions against Shrewsbury between 2008 and 2013, but have since won two of their last three (L1).
The Shrews have played four matches at Wembley and lost all four, including the Football League Trophy final this season. The only team to lose more often on every visit to Wembley are Brentford (five defeats in five matches).
Should Rotherham win promotion, it will be the first time since 2006-07 that three relegated teams from one league will have been promoted the next season in the Football League - Hartlepool, Swindon and Walsall were relegated from League One in 2005-06 and promoted from League Two in 2006-07.
Paul Warne: "They are massive favourites. They've had more rest, they won more points. What Hursty has done is pretty phenomenal.
"But my lads are an amazing group. We wanted to put together a group that wanted to be together. They are definitely that. They put their bodies on the line for each other. They want to win for each other."
Paul Hurst: "I've been promoted previously at clubs despite not finishing in the highest position in the table," he said. "We know how it is at the start of the season and, considering what was expected of us, I'd have pushed for the play-offs to reach down to 15th of 16th in the table!
"It's still a bit surreal that we're in this position. To be one game from the Championship is some effort from the players and lots of others in the background. It would mean so much to so many people, and we saw that in the celebrations after the semi-final.
"I have to pinch myself slightly when I see 'Rotherham v Shrewsbury' and that we've got this chance and a second trip to Wembley. The first one didn't quite work out the way we wanted but we hope we can still use that experience to make it a better performance than the last."
You have to applaud what Shrewsbury have done this season. This time last year they were celebrating staying up and now they are just 90 minutes away from promotion to the Championship.
Rotherham have also had a great season as they look to bounce back from that dreadful relegation last year, they were also very effective against Scunthorpe in the semi-finals and will be feeling confident heading to Wembley.
Shrewsbury showed their quality over the semi-finals but also proved they can control their opposition and defend resolutely. They are so dangerous on the counter-attack as well. Paul Hurst and Paul Warne know each well so there will be no secrets in either dugout.
The lack of pressure Shrewsbury will feel against a side looking to bounce back should stand them in good stead. They have defied the odds all season and I think they'll do that one more time.
David Prutton predicts: Shrewsbury to win 2-1 and Shaun Whalley to score first (60/1 with Sky Bet)
