Up against three former Premier League clubs in the League One end-of-season lottery in Charlton, Sunderland and Portsmouth, Rovers are viewed as the outsiders by many, with McCann’s side finishing 15 points behind third-placed Charlton. The Londoners are in the box seat ahead of tomorrow’s pivotal second leg semi-final meeting at The Valley, courtesy of a 2-1 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday, with Doncaster having it all to do to extend their league season to a 49th game.

But taking any solace from the suggestion that Rovers’ campaign would represent a success, even if it ended in noble failure in the play-offs is not something that manager McCann is entertaining.

McCann, who reports no fresh injury issues, said: “We have got to this stage now and it is great to get people saying: ‘well done, you have done great to get to this point.’

“We have been underdogs this year and a lot of people have written us off. But we are here because we deserve to be, make no mistake.

“We are at this point because we deserve to be here and have proven over 47 games that we are a good team.

“It is a case of drumming into the group: ‘yes, you have done well to get here, but let us not settle for second best and give everything.’

“We want to go one step further and we have to give everything we have for this football club, ourselves and our families to see if we can do it.”

Meanwhile, McCann is adamant that Rovers’ late goal in the first instalment on home soil has fortified levels of belief ahead of the trip south, while confirming that his side have practised spot-kicks in the event of a shoot-out.

He added: “I think the goal is huge, I really do. It gives us a sense of belief now that we can go there and turn the deficit around.

“It is not going to be easy and should not be at this stage. All the games you have seen in the play-offs have been tight and we are no different.

“It is a great challenge for us and we want to embrace and enjoy it and play with no fear and let us see where it takes us.”

Doncaster Rovers’ Grant McCann refusing to ‘settle for second best’