Jimmy Nicholl insists his Cowdenbeath players need only envisage their opposite number at Dunfermline running out at Ibrox and Tynecastle next season to inspire them to play-off success this week.
The Fife rivals square up to each other in the first leg at Central Park this evening before the return at East End Park on Sunday, fully aware that a massive prize lies in wait.
The Blue Brazil are desperate to remain in the Championship after finishing ninth and their neighbours, who ended the campaign as comfortable League One runners-up to Rangers, are seeking to snatch Cowdenbeath’s second-tier status away from them to join Rangers, Hearts and possibly Hibs in the division next term.
Rather than fear the consequences of missing out on such a desperately sought-after reward, Nicholl believes his players should instead be motivated to win their own personal battles this evening by thoughts of what is at stake.
He said: “I think it’s an incentive, I really do, and I’m not just saying that. I was a right-back as a player so, if I was our right-back, I would ask myself: ‘Is the Dunfermline right-back going to walk out at Ibrox and Tynecastle, and possibly somewhere else, next season instead of me?’
“If I was Dean Brett, our right-back, I would be fighting tooth and nail to make sure it was me and not the Dunfermline right-back.
Cowdenbeath almost completed an incredible end-of-season escape from the play-off place, with only a scrappy goal for Queen of the South five minutes into injury time on the final day of the campaign snatchingsafety from their hands and plunging them into the tension of the play-offs.
For Jon Robertson, who returned to the club this term after 12 months of a two-year deal at St Mirren, it is an opportunity to ensure he does not allow his career to slip further down the ranks.
He added: “It’s no secret that whichever team goes on to win these play-offs is going to benefit massively next season.
“You can’t quantify what that would do for a club like Cowdenbeath. To have the benefits of Hearts and Rangers next season would be massive. What a chance there is next season. The Championship could be more exciting than it’s ever been and to be a part of that would be fantastic.
“After leaving St Mirren, I don’t really want to go any lower and it would be huge for both clubs to be in the Championship. But, unfortunately, it can only be one of us.”
The play-offs hold no surprises for Dunfermline midfielder Josh Falkingham.
Two years ago, the former Leeds United trainee missed out on promotion with Arbroath following a semi-final defeat to Dumbarton and last year he was relegated via the end-of-season knockout system with Dunfermline.
However, with the Pars a team onthe up this year, rather than one in the throes of administration, redundancies and points deductions that cost them so dearly last year, the 23-year-old is optimistic he can enjoy a change in fortune thisweek.
He said: “With it being a derby, it makes it more of a spectacle, but these are the two games we’ve been working towards the whole season.
“There’s a totally different atmosphere and feeling going into the play-offs this season compared to last year but what we went through last year has only helped us and shown us that we don’t want to have that same feeling in the changing room come Sunday.
“This is my third play-off in a row. I’ve failed on two occasions, so hopefully it’s going to be a case of third time lucky.”