Sheffield United and Sunderland face off at Wembley Stadium in the Championship play-off final on Saturday afternoon, with the winner gaining a place in the Premier League for next season.
Indeed, it is coined the “richest game in football” not only for the benefit of promotion, but financially too as the promoted club gain the Premier League's riches.
Sheffield United thrashed Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in the semi-final, and with 3-0 wins in both legs, stretched their unbeaten run to four games. Finishing higher than Sunderland in the table in third in the league season, the Blades must be considered favourites to triumph.
Fourth-placed Sunderland overcame Coventry in dramatic circumstances in the other semi-final, with a last-minute goal in the second leg earning a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 overall aggregate victory. Those matches came after a five-game losing streak in the league, as the Black Cats seemed to have found form again at a crucial time.
Sunderland also won the last H2H in January, but Sheffield United had previously racked up three successive victories in the prior meetings. Interestingly, there have been no draws in the last 13 H2Hs!
How the bookies view it: Blades favourites to down Black Cats
Sheffield United are 13/10 favourites with BoyleSports to win in normal time, while a draw is priced at 19/10 with the same bookmaker. A Sunderland victory can be backed at 11/5.
Given that other high-profile finals between English clubs this season have been won by teams starting as underdogs according to bookmakers (Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final and Tottenham in the Europa League final), we feel inclined to back Sunderland with the odds on offer.
Recent head-to-head: Sunderland victorious
Sunderland won 2-1 when the two sides last met at the Stadium of Light in January in the Championship. Key Black Cats strike partners Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor both got on the scoresheet, with Mayenda also assisting Isidor.
The Spaniard could be key at Wembley again, having also scored in the semi-final against Coventry. Mayenda can be backed at 7/2 with BoyleSports to score anytime.
Players to watch: Strikers should settle tie
Both teams possess plenty of firepower, with Sheffield United relying on the likes of Gustavo Hamer and Tom Cannon for goal contributions.
Isidor and Mayenda are a great partnership for Sunderland, and with both scoring in the last H2H and in the semi-final, the Blades must defend well against them.
Predicted lineups
Ollie Arblaster and Rhys Norrington-Davies remain injured for Sheffield United, otherwise they have a fully fit squad to choose from.
Sunderland will hope Patrick Roberts can recover from a minor injury he picked up in the semi-final, while Jayden Danns and Ian Poveda are definitely out.
Sheffield United: Cooper, Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows, O'Hare, Peck, De Souza Costa, Hamer, Cannon, Moore.
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin, Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Le Fee, Isidor, Mayenda.
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams will be desperate for glory and with three of the last four H2Hs seeing both teams score, backing them to do so again at Evens with BoyleSports seems a safe bet.
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