Saturday Interview: Home comforts are not crucial in Town's bid for glory, believes Kay

Not so, says Huddersfield Town's Antony Kay who, to back up his argument, points to not only last season's League One promotion deciders but also his own experience.

The 27-year-old will hope today to help the Terriers take a massive step towards the May 29 final as Millwall make the trip north to the Galpharm Stadium.

It will be the second time that Kay has competed in the play-offs with the Barnsley-born midfielder having helped his home-town club to promotion in 2006.

The Tykes beat Swansea City – then managed by an occupant of the away dugout today, Kenny Jackett – on penalties in the Millennium Stadium but it is the semi-final, ironically against Huddersfield, that Kay believes offers proof that playing at home second is not necessarily a plus.

"I am honestly not bothered by playing home or away first," says Kay, who has been a lynchpin of Lee Clark's side since joining from Tranmere Rovers last summer.

"The thing about the play-offs is that anything can happen. I was at Barnsley when Huddersfield came to Oakwell for the first leg and won 1-0. A lot of people said the tie was over but we came here and won 3-1, which was a massive achievement.

"That showed how a tie is never over after the first leg. Blackpool won away this week, while Leicester almost got to Wembley despite losing at home 1-0 in the first leg.

"Where a club finishes in the league table is important, but not vital. At Barnsley, we went up after finishing fifth on the last day. Scunthorpe went up last season from sixth place.

"It is why I see the home leg as important but not as important as a lot of people make out. If we go down to The Den level and then go in front on the night, you can imagine the pressure that will be piled on the Millwall players from their fans.

"It can be an intimidating place to visit, but that can also apply to the home team as well. The key is realising a tie is not over after the first leg, no matter what the result."

Huddersfield will go into today's first leg with the unenviable record of having never won a home play-off tie in five previous attempts.

The club's first try came in the 1991-92 season when Peterborough United triumphed 2-1 at Leeds Road then three years later Town did reach Wembley but only after a 1-1 home draw with Brentford.

In 2001, a goalless draw with the Bees at the then named McAlpine Stadium proceeded a 2-1 defeat at Griffin Park before two appearances in the play-offs under Peter Jackson ended in a 2-2 draw with Lincoln (2004) and a 3-1 defeat to Barnsley (2006).

Kay played his part in that most recent failure for Huddersfield but the central holding player is adamant that this time around it will be different.

He said: "It has been a good season so far and we have done well to get in the play-offs. The aim, though, when we started last summer was to win promotion so all that has happened is we are a step closer.

"We had a slight chance of automatic on the final day but lost at Exeter, which was disappointing. But in a funny way, it could work in our favour.

"We didn't perform but it means everyone knows we cannot afford to let our standards slip now the play-offs are here or it will cost us.

"Winning promotion via the play-offs is a great feeling. I will never forget the day it happened with Barnsley. Obviously, the aim every season is to finish first or second but the next best thing is winning the play-offs.

"I fancy us to do it. There are no underdogs this year. It has been a really tight division, as we saw on the last day when Swindon, Charlton and Millwall all had time in second place before Leeds went up.

"I believe there is not a lot between all four of the teams so it could be a bit of a lottery."

At the age of 27, Kay is one of the elder statesmen at the Galpharm Stadium with manager Clark having packed his side full of promising young talent.

It has been a conscious decision on behalf of the management and one that has paid dividends with Town being one of the most pleasing-on-the-eye teams in the division, as proved by only champions Norwich City having scored more goals this term.

The potential flipside of putting the emphasis on youth, however, is that the Terriers lack the big-game experience of the likes of Millwall who, just as they did in last month's trip to Huddersfield, can look to record goalscorer Neil Harris for inspiration when they are up against it.

Kay said: "We have a young squad so the key is getting our feet on the ground and making sure everything is sorted. There is probably only me and Peter Clarke aged 27 or 28.

"The gaffer knows that and is making sure all the lads know what is expected of them. Millwall are a good team, we played them a couple of weeks ago so we all understand what they are about.

"I wouldn't say the younger lads have been coming up to me for advice but I do give it to them anyway. When you have been in this situation before, as I have, it can help because you have an idea what to expect."

That big-game experience that Kay is alluding to includes the 2006 League One play-off final when he held his nerve to convert one of the penalties as Barnsley won a dramatic shootout 4-3 after the game had finished 2-2.

Kay added: "I imagine getting to a final and losing must be absolutely gutting. But if you win like Barnsley did in the Millennium against Swansea, the play-offs are great. And, yes, I would be up for taking a penalty again if needed."

Huddersfield v Millwall

Team news: Danny Drinkwater returned to Manchester United during the week for a scan on the thigh injury that saw the loanee substituted during last week's defeat at Exeter but he has since been given the

all-clear. Tom Clarke is also making good progress, though his ankle is severely bruised. For Millwall, Kenny Jackett has a couple of injury worries over Danny Schofield (calf) and Alan Dunne (foot). The pair missed the final day win over Swindon.

Last six games: Huddersfield Town LWWWWL, Millwall WDLWLW.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Last time: Huddersfield Town 1 Millwall 0; April 16, 2010; League One.

SkyBet odds: Huddersfield to win 11-8, Draw 9-4, Millwall to win 2-1.