By Matt Cecil

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With just three games to decide which one of four teams will be playing League One football next season, the play-offs can be a nerve-wracking time for everybody involved as they realise that one misplaced pass or missed opportunity could be the difference between glory and agony over the coming weeks.

But for a number of the Wanderers' first-team squad, the end of season lottery is nothing new as Paul Lambert's experienced squad has a wealth of experience in the play-off situation; wwfc.com investigates.

Scott Shearer: Although the Scottish keeper will miss the upcoming matches as he continues his recovery from injury, Shearer was a play-off hero with Shrewsbury Town last season as a string of fine saves from the on-loan stopper against MK Dons helped Town progress to the final at Wembley.

Unfortunately for the Glaswegian, he was forced to sit out the clash with Bristol Rovers as part of the loan arrangement which took him to the Shropshire club from Rovers, and he watched on as his replacement Chris MacKenzie shipped three goals as Shrewsbury lost out.

Russell Martin: Russ was involved in the first-team squad the last time that Wanderers reached the play-offs when he featured as a central-midfielder in the 2-1 aggregate defeat to Cheltenham Town in 2005/06. Mike Williamson, Will Antwi, Stefan Oakes, Matt Bloomfield and Sergio Torres were all members of the Blues' squad at the time, although Sergio was sidelined with injury for the two matches.

Will Antwi: The one-time Ghanaian international has also tasted play-off matches in the Conference during his time with Aldershot Town, who have recently been promoted to the Football League after several years of coming close. Antwi scored the winning spot-kick in a shoot-out against Hereford as the Shots progressed to the 2004 final versus Shrewsbury Town, but there was heartbreak for the Hampshire club as they lost on penalties at the Britannia Stadium.

Disappointingly for Antwi and the Shots, there was more penalty agony the following season as they lost to Carlisle United in the play-off semi-final at Brunton Park, and that turned out to be Will's last appearance for Town before signing for the Blues.

Leon Knight: Ex-Chelsea trainee Leon has had better experiences of the play-offs than some of his current team-mates, scoring the winning goal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to help Brighton progress to the Championship at the expense of Bristol City in 2004.

However, 'Knighty' was part of the Swansea team to lose on penalties in the 2006 final against Barnsley, although he was substituted after 70 minutes of normal time. The diminutive striker had scored twice against Brentford in the semi-final to help the Swans progress but had to watch on as Alan Tate missed the decisive spot-kick at Cardiff.

And last season he came on as a substitute in both semi-finals for MK Dons as they lost on aggregate to Shrewsbury Town, for whom Scott Shearer was the outstanding goalkeeper.

Gary Holt: Former Scotland international 'Holty' is hoping to make it third time lucky this season after twice losing out in the play-offs with Norwich City and Nottingham Forest. He played alongside ex-Blue Clint Easton in the Canaries side that lost on penalties in the 2002 Championship final against Birmingham City, and scored for Forest in the 5-4 aggregate defeat to Yeovil in last year's League One semi-final.

Scott McGleish: 26-goal man Scotty first tasted the play-offs ten years ago when his Barnet side lost 3-2 on aggregate to Colchester United in the League Two semi-final, and two years later he missed out on a final appearance again as the Bees went down 5-1 on aggregate to Peterborough United at the same stage. Sam Stockley was also in the Barnet team for the two fixtures.

McGleish had moved to Northampton Town by the time his next play-off appearance came around in 2005, but it was the same story as the Cobblers lost 1-0 on aggregate to Southend United. Surprisingly Scotty hasn't scored in any of his six play-off matches so far - let's hope that record changes over the next few weeks!

Craig Woodman: While Leon Knight was celebrating promotion with Brighton in the 2004 League One play-off final, 'Woody' was on the losing Bristol City side that lost in Cardiff that day.

Tommy Doherty: The 'Doc' featured in the Bristol City team which lost 1-0 on aggregate to Cardiff in the 2003 League One semi-final, and appeared in the same team as Craig Woodman against Leon Knight's Brighton the following year.

Delroy Facey: And last but by no means least, Delroy Facey has tasted the play-offs during his time with Huddersfield Town, when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Brentford in the League One semi-final in 2002.

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