Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff says the turnaround at Nottingham Forest has been "incredible" and says a mixture of youth and experience will be key against Huddersfield this afternoon.
The two sides lock horns in the Championship play-off final at Wembley with promotion to the Premier League said to be worth around £195m.
Forest's surge to the end of season showpiece has been quite remarkable given they were bottom of the table when Steve Cooper took over as head coach at the start of the season.
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But they have surged into contention as a result of terrific form that has spanned the whole season and ex-Crystal Palace winger McAnuff has been impressed.
"At that stage of the season when he (Cooper) walked in through the door to be sat here in the play-off final, I don't think he would believe it if he's being honest," he said.
"Nottingham Forest fans probably wouldn't have believed it so it's been an incredible turnaround with a very similar group of players.
"Yes, they've added a little bit along the way with Keinan Davis coming in the window. There seems to be a dynamism about the team. They sit in at times and are really good on the counter, good pace in the team.
"They've got some real top young players and again he (Cooper) has got a really good record of getting real quality out of young players. That's going to be key and mixing it with some of the senior boys like Joe Worrall and getting Steve Cook in as well."
Forest's success comes after the appointment of Dane Murphy as chief executive with the club changing their transfer policy to sign a host of young talented players such as Djed Spence.
And Reds legend Stuart Pearce added: "The pressures that are heaped on the teams especially teams with a rich history like Forest have got is quite intense.
"I can tell you that from first-hand experience. They are desperate for the promised land of the Premier League, but unless you have a solid structure you just can't arrive without good performances and good results without putting structure beneath that.
"Hopefully Forest are getting that right now and are in a really good position no matter what the result is today."
