HAVE YOUR SAY: Vote now – Blades and Terriers are closing in on Wembley final showdown

The Blades are overwhelming favourites to progress at Bramall Lane tonight after grinding out a dour goalless draw at Lamex Stadium on Friday night.

If United can beat Stevenage, they will more than likely face Huddersfield Town following an emphatic 2-0 first leg win for Simon Grayson’s side at Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.

That would mean Wembley being able to look forward to a bumper crowd as, for only the second time since the advent of the play-offs 25 years ago, two Yorkshire clubs would go head-to-head in a one-off promotion decider.

Wilson, however, is a veteran of four previous play-off campaigns as a manager so understands fully the pitfalls of looking too far ahead. “It would be foolish to sit here now and think the game is over because it is not,” he warned. “The tie is finely balanced and we are taking nothing for granted.

“We have to be very careful in what we do because, if we get carried away, the second leg will go against us.”

Tonight’s tie will be the second time in 16 days that the Blades have faced Stevenage with a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane on April 28 proving to be a turning point in the race for automatic promotion.

Due to Sheffield Wednesday having won 2-1 at Brentford earlier in the day, United’s dropping of two points handed the initiative to their Steel City rivals, who went on to complete the job of clinching second place behind champions Charlton Athletic by beating Wycombe Wanderers on the final day.

Wilson added: “We have seen in the last few weeks what Stevenage can do if you take your foot off the gas. They have players who can hit you on the counter attack.

“We will be going out to win the game but there will also be an air of caution because we don’t want to give a silly goal away.

“The three games we have had this season have all been very tight and I can’t see this one being any different. But if one team scores [early], the game might open up, and let’s hope that’s us.”

Huddersfield players and staff will be interested spectactors tonight on television after an impressive display at stadium:mk put them firmly in charge of their own semi-final destiny.

After losing the 2011 play-off final to Peterborough United, Town are determined to make amends this time around but manager Grayson has also been quick to stress that the tie against MK Dons is far from over ahead of tomorrow night’s return at the Galpharm Stadium.

The Terriers manager, who is sweating on the fitness of Scott Arfield (ankle) and Callum Woods (toe) after the pair limped out of the 2-0 win, said: “There is no chance the tie is over, none whatsoever. Any manager with a two-goal lead would say the same.

“You have to be wary of the opposition, especially someone like MK Dons, who are a good team.

“They will be disappointed and that means we have to be physically focused on the task.

“We started that in the dressing room straight after (Saturday’s game) and that will continue right through.

“We haven’t achieved anything until that final whistle blows on Tuesday night. There will be no complacency from the team.

“We always have a five-minute debrief after every game and the lads were rightly congratulating each other on a good performance.

“But the focus was already on Tuesday night. They went straight into the ice baths and that brought any temperatures that were racing down.”

If there is to be a second all-Yorkshire play-off final – Doncaster Rovers having beaten Leeds United in 2008 to win promotion to the Championship – on May 26, Sheffield United have to win tonight.

Richard Cresswell is expected to be restored to the starting line-up after Wilson opted for a 4-5-1 formation in the first leg due to having concerns over the striker’s recent shoulder injury.

The Blades chief said: “Cressy was desperate to play. Everyone wanted to play but we had to prepare for two games.

“Now we are going to back our place after a tough game and if we can bring fresh bodies in what a bonus that is for us.”

The Blades are hoping for a bumper 30,000 attendance tonight and Wilson said: “There is a lot riding on this result. We have got a great opportunity and we have got to force home our home advantage if we can.

“The fans will be bubbling and they will play an importan part as they have done all season.”