Notts County manager Kevin Nolan says the play-offs should be enjoyed – not feared.
The Magpies are set to begin their campaign with a first-leg trip to Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
And the boss has one simple instruction for his players.
“Enjoy it,” he said. “I’m going to, because it might be a while before I experience them again.
“We’ve now got two games to get to Wembley. We’re all in it and we want to win it, so let’s have it.
“Every game I try to keep a level of consistency but there’s no hiding place now. If we win these next two we go to Wembley, and that’s the be all and end all.
“For me, it’s about making sure I give the lads the right direction to help them do themselves – and all of us – proud.
“I was very lucky to play in two play-offs and one of those was in my first season as a player, so to be replicating that as a manager is magnificent.”
The manager confirmed that Mason Bennett, despite having recently upped his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, would not be ready to play any part in the Magpies’ play-off campaign.
But he is hopeful that Notts fans haven’t seen the last of the forward.
“He’s back on the grass but it’s way too early for him,” said Nolan. “There’s not enough gametime or training minutes, even if we got to the final.
“But we’re going to keep in contact with Derby and Mason himself to ensure that if there’s a possibility of getting him next year, we’re at the front of the queue.
“We were so impressed with what we saw from Mason – not only on the field, but by the way he conducted himself and his eagerness to play for Notts County.
“I’m hoping we can renew that at the beginning of next season but, first and foremost, we hope he gets back to full fitness as comfortably as possible because it was a nasty injury.
“I’m sure, because of his professionalism, he’ll come back better and stronger.”