Dave Bassett's Opinion (former boss of Nottm Forest and Sheff Utd)
Sheffield United are experienced and they have got some good players that blend well together. They also have the experience of two semi-finals already this season. They have been the team that have caught the eye this season but the play-offs are an entirely different prospect.
Reading are on a roll and they have a great belief about themselves. They have obviously surprised everybody just by reaching the play-offs this season and have an excellent team spirit and a good tactical plan.
On their day Wolves are a very good side and, like Sheffield United, they are very experienced. They have the experience of last year and will be stronger for it. They have some very good players with Premiership experience so I can see them having a big say.
We know that Forest on their given day can beat anyone in the division 3-0. They are a young side and have an attacking impetus and their big advantage this year is that they are scoring goals, which they hadn't been managing before.
Phil Parkinson (Manager of Colchester)
Bristol City are a very good footballing team and are on a very good run at the moment. Form is so important when you head into the play-offs and City are the form team. They are going in on a really rich vein of form.
QPR are another strong team. They have enjoyed a good run of form at the end of the season and that will be important when they take on Oldham. They are like Bristol City in that they have been there or thereabouts all season and have players with the experience to handle it.
Oldham are another really strong team. They have some very strong physical players but they also play good football and Iain Dowie has done a terrific job. They have ground out a lot of results away from home and I think that resilience will stand them in good stead.
In terms of actual players and squads you would have to say Cardiff would be favourites. But the expectancy of the crowd there is weighing heavily on their shoulders of the players. The manager has got a fantastic group of players together but it's a matter of whether the players can handle that expectancy.
Denis Smith (Wrexham Manager)
Bury beat Bournemouth twice in the league this season, but the Cherries have been the best side I have seen of the ones that are in the playoffs. I think they'll make it through and the Millennium Stadium will suit Bournemouth with their style of play and the way they pass it around.
Scunthorpe are a very hard working and a well organised side. They added a couple of players just before the deadline with Paul Dalglish looking as if he has done well for them. They're running into form and are going to be a difficult side to beat.
Lincoln left it late but have been up there most of the season and are the surprise package. Everyone puts it down to their pitch, but while it is not the best pitch at least it is flat. They are very, very good defensively and have the best record in the division. I think they only conceded about 37 goals. They will be very difficult to beat but they possibly do not score enough.
With Pawel Abbott and Jon Newby up front Bury were always a handful. But I think Abott going back to Preston has taken the edge off them and they might not be as good as they were hoping. Their pitch is not the best so they might cause Bournemouth a few problems there.
