"I don't think I can give any words to put into perspective how much it will mean to me come 5:30 on Saturday evening," were the words of Notts County captain Kyle Cameron on his hopes of guiding his side back to the football league this weekend.
The Magpies booked their place at Wembley following an enthralling 3-2 win over Boreham Wood last Sunday, coming from two goals down to win in extra-time thanks to Jodi Jones' 120th-minute winner.
But with seemingly all hope lost after Femi Ilesanmi and Lee Ndlovu had given Luke Garrard's side a two-goal advantage at half-time, many predicted that Notts' play-off curse had struck once more.
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However, you should never write off this special group of players as they battled adversity once more to produce one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent history - defender Aden Baldwin scoring twice before Jones' strike sent Meadow Lane into raptures.
It was the sixth time this campaign that the Magpies had come from behind to win a game, something Cameron believes last season would have seen his side completely written off in staging an unlikely way back into the contest.
"Definitely, I think if this had been last year and we had gone 2-0 down at half-time, the fans may have written us off - but this year there is a different atmosphere and mentality at the club.
"It's not just us as players, but it is also the fans as well and they stay believed in us, even at 2-0 down, that we could go on and get the job done which is a massive credit to them and to everyone who has changed that mentality.
"I think because we have played 46 games so far this season, to play a one-off 90-minute game that it means so much to everyone that we were 2-0 down and we still managed to come back and face adversity against a team that has got the best defensive record in the league.
"We went on to score two in the second half and I just think, it shows what a special group that we have here and what a great day Sunday was to do that and the two lads who haven't scored all season, that just sums it up as well - everyone plays their part when it matters and those two lads stepped up when it really mattered and it helped us out massively.
"I am so glad that we got through and we have now got a big weekend to plan for now."
But the outcome of the encounter could have been so much different. With the Magpies chasing the winning goal, The Wood were able to get in behind Notts' high line, not for the first time of the evening.
With Dennon Lewis in possession, substitute Josh Rees was left waiting inside the area unmarked but was denied by an exquisite piece of defending from Aaron Nemane to swing the ball behind for a corner much to the relief of those inside Meadow Lane.
"If you don't make that tackle, we are 3-2 down with five minutes to go and then we are back to square one," Cameron explained.
"For me, that tackle is just as important, if not more important than a goal and it set the tone for the last five minutes and maybe gave us a bit of a kick up the backside for us to push on and get that winning goal."
Cameron knows all too well the heartbreak of the National League play-off final, losing 6-5 on penalties for Torquay against Hartlepool two years ago at Ashton Gate in another dramatic encounter which saw goalkeeper, Lucas Covolan, net an injury-time equaliser for the Gulls to send the game to extra-time.
The 26-year-old was also part of the squad that lost to Grimsby last campaign, while Sam Slocombe, Richard Brindley, Connell Rawlinson, and Jim O'Brien featured for the Magpies' in last visit to Wembley in their play-off final defeat to Harrogate Town in 2020, with no fans allowed inside the ground due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But with the final returning to the home of football after a two-year absence, Cameron is relishing the opportunity to lead his side out under the Wembley arch - also explaining how he intends to use his experiences of previous play-off campaigns to his advantage this weekend.
"I think that season was very different to this one with the points tally was not as big and we weren't as dominant in games as much as we have been this season.
"Reflecting on that this year, we are a different kettle of fish with the way that we have been playing this season and the mentality this year is that little bit better.
"It's a bigger stage this time so there may be a little more nerves with that, and as for me I will be playing centre-half rather than at left-wing this time so I think there will be a little bit more pressure to play well in my position, but I can't wait for it and I am chomping at the bit to get going and get to Saturday as quick as possible really.
"I am really looking forward to it - for some players, it may be their only opportunity to play at Wembley in their full career, and for me, it may be the only time I get to lead the lads out at Wembley, who knows.
"I can't wait to take those first steps out of the tunnel and lead the lads out onto the pitch.
"I think everyone is looking forward to it and a few of the lads have been here three years ago with Notts, but it was slightly different due to coronavirus, and I think the fans can play a big part in us getting over the line."
In what has been a special season for everyone involved with the football club, Notts are potentially 90 minutes away from returning to the football league after a four-year stay in the fifth tier.
Cameron has been a pivotal figure in leading Luke Williams' side to 107 points and scoring 120 goals this campaign - starting 44 of Notts' 46 league games this season while also scooping the Player of the Month award for December.
Having already created memories that will live long in the thoughts of every Notts fan, Cameron explained what it would mean to finish this season with captaining County to a return to the football league.
"I don't think I can give any words to put into perspective how much it will mean to me come 5:30 on Saturday evening.
"If I got hold of that trophy it is going to be one of those moments that you look on for the rest of your life and enjoy it so fondly - especially taking a club like Notts back to the football league where they belong - it would be absolutely incredible."
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