English Championship Play-off:It has been touted as the £60 million showdown - a battle for the right to leave Wembley with a first-class ticket for the billionaire's playground of the Premiership. The hopefuls of West Brom and Derby County pull on their boots for one final time this afternoon knowing that, for one of them, the summer will be filled with promise.
West Brom will be hoping to continue their free-scoring ways. Tony Mowbray's side have scored a century of goals in all competitions this season and top-scored with 81 in the Championship - including 11 in their last three games. Momentum is certainly on their side after seeing off Mick McCarthy's Wolves over two legs of their semi-final, winning 3-2 at Molineux and 1-0 in the home return.
For Derby, they will aim to justify their third-place finish in the Championship, which almost saw them snatch automatic promotion only to fall two points short.
With nothing much between the pair this season - West Brom winning their home league encounter 2-1 and Derby 1-0 victors at Pride Park - it will come down to who wants it more on the day.
Striker Kevin Phillips is the man of the moment after his three-goal haul in the semis and his little and large partnership with Diomansy Kamara has terrorised defences all season - plundering 45 goals between them in all competitions.
It's not just up front that West Brom look strong with Wales international Jason Koumas and Hungarian counterpart Zoltan Gera likely to keep the Derby full backs on their toes, and County midfielders Giles Barnes and Stephen Pearson are set to be issued with strict instructions to track back when not in possession.
Derby's main attacking threat will come through targetman Steve Howard who has proved to be a shrewd signing by manager Billy Davies since arriving last summer.
Albion centre backs Paul McShane and Chris Perry will be urged to nullify the former Luton man's aerial threat, denying him the chance to hold the ball up and link with his colleagues - particularly with the talented Matt Oakley and David Jones looking to pick up any scraps on the edge of the box.
