Leeds United are set to face off with Southampton in a battle to earn an instant return to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs.
Both teams suffered relegation from the top flight last season, but both Russell Martin and Daniel Farke may sense an opportunity to put that right.
The Leeds boss will be looking for his team to replicate the performance that booked them a place at Wembley Stadium, with Leeds beating Norwich City 4-0 in the play-off semi-final second leg at Elland Road.
The Whites were back to their fluid best in attack, moving them one step closer to Championship promotion.
Leeds will be looking to banish their previous heartbreaks with a victory in the play-off final this weekend.
Southampton stand in their way, who have been something of a problem for the Yorkshire outfit all season.
Leeds head-to-head record against Southampton
One concern for Leeds supporters heading into the tie this weekend will surround the previous clashes with Southampton earlier this season.
The Whites lost the tie at St. Mary’s 3-1 in September 2023, before falling to a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture on the final game of the campaign.
While it may give Martin a slight edge in the build-up to the meeting at Wembley, he is still cautious of the final.
“I don’t think so,” the Southampton boss responded on Sky Sports when asked whether that head-to-head will matter in the game.
“I think the players know they can do it [beat Leeds] but I think as the two previous finals [League One and League Two] have shown, I don’t think that either team that has won [promotion], has won against them in the season.”
Play-off final stats
As the Southampton boss alludes to, the other play-off finals in the EFL can shed some light on the pattern developed so far.
In both the League One and League Two finals, the teams that won had previously lost to their opponent twice during the regulation season.
It may bode well for Leeds then, that they suffered that fate against the Saints, with plenty that can be learned from heading into the huge clash.
With both sides in good form following their wins in the play-off semi-finals, it may be a tough one to call between the two previously relegated teams.