It's Crystal clear - Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool can prepare for a trip to the Palace

Play-offs are always unpredictable and the intensity of the battle at the top of the Championship this season makes it doubly interesting. The ultimate promotion prize is there for any of the teams to take.

Frequently the teams that perform the best are those who don't feel the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion and have enjoyed a late season rise in form to snatch a place in the top six.

Both ties pitch an in-form team against one that has struggled of late, but over two legs, and then the 90-minute final, anything could happen.

Hull City v Watford: Solid form at the end of the season moved Hull to within touching distance of the Premier League but in the end they have had to settle for a place in the play-offs. They have far exceeded expectations this season, but a key factor will be if the players are feeling on a high after a good year, or down having been so close to an automatic spot. Watford, on the other hand, have had a truly appalling run in, and tried their best to throw away any chance of promotion at all. In the end goal difference kept them in a play-off spot, and they need to remember how to win quickly.

Watford beat Hull 1-0 back in October, but fresh in the memory will be Hull's 3-0 victory in the return game at the KC Stadium a few weeks ago. With the advantage of having the second leg at home and form on their side, Hull will be confident of progressing to Wembley.

Bristol City v Crystal Palace: Palace's 5-0 win over Burnley will have sent shock waves through the other play-off teams, and there is no doubt that they are the form team of the four. Since appointing Neil Warnock as manager they have transformed themselves from relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls - and the obvious pun about the Eagles soaring is hard to resist!

Bristol City, on the other hand, have endured a torrid time over the last few weeks, and may well feel that their opportunity has already been and gone.
Palace haven't lost to City yet this season, and Warnock has never lost a play-off semi-final, and there is little to suggest that either of those records will be broken.

Play-off Final: Everyone knows just how much will be at stake at Wembley, and it is a match that, traditionally, is full of drama. If the semis progress as expected, Warnock will be looking to win the seventh promotion of his career, and with so much at stake his experience could prove to be the deciding factor.

Hull is the largest city never to host top flight football, and just a few years ago it was very possible that it wouldn't be hosting any football at all. Their rapid rise up the divisions to the brink of the Premier League is the stuff of fairy tales. Palace will probably have too much for them on the big day and it would be brave to bet against them earning the right to travel to Anfield, Old Trafford and the rest next season.