Cannot complain about both sides not going hard at it as they chase a place in League One.

It has been 22 years since Grimsby were in the third tier. Salford have never been that high on the football pyramid.

Kelly N'Mai drives into the area on the left for Salford and goes down under a challenge from Geza Turi.

N'Mai wants a penalty but his claims are waved away.

The sun is shining brightly but it has been raining goals.

Grimsby want a corner but the referee rules it's gone out off Andy Cook last on the left byeline.

The Town striker isn't happy about it though.

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

It's a great start for both teams.

Salford were a bit shellshocked from the opening goal but they really have a spring in their step after getting the goal back.

Anyone had a chance to catch their breath yet?

Frenetic start at Blundell Park as Grimsby keeper Jackson Smith is out to claim a ball into the box.

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

That's a right mess at the back for Town.

There was almost three of them going towards goal. It was a scruffy shot that just went to the side of the keeper.

We've not had too many goals in the EFL play-offs so far. How about that for a beauty to get us rolling in League Two?

Gary Croft
Former Grimsby defender on BBC Radio Humberside

Absolutely incredible strike - it's such a well-controlled volley.

I bet he can't believe his own eyes. Even the keeper couldn't believe it, he didn't even move to get it.

It's a brilliant start.

A victory over Manchester Untied this season and now first EFL play-off campaign in 20 years for Grimsby Town.

Not a bad season. Plenty of noise inside Blundell Park.

Away we go at Blundell Park.

Salford City

Image source, Shutterstock

Salford City boss Karl Robinson said his side have still had a "very good season" despite missing out on automatic promotion by a point.

The Ammies won eight of their final 12 league games and come into the play-offs in decent form.

"You know what football is like, you don't always get what you actually deserve," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"When you take things out of your own control and leave it to somebody else, we can accept that. We firmly believe that we have had a very good season."

Asked what he can take from the two league defeats by Grimsby earlier in the campaign, Robinson said: "Don't do what we did last time.

"When you've played them in the middle of the season, I think the problem you have is that you can be off the back of a difficult game the week before, or you can be not as fresh as them.

"We're going to this game with a lot of players back fit."

Grimsby Town

Image source, Shutterstock

Grimsby Town boss David Artell said the two wins over Salford in the regular season are "largely irrelevant" and that his side will treat the play-offs like any other game.

"Our approach and our way of doing things will always be the same, that's what we do," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"That's not governed by opposition. If that was the case, we'd have had a root-and-branch approach after Bromley away (a 2-0 loss) at the end of December.

"But then from that game onward, we've been the best team in the league. So you'd be changing something that didn't need changing.

"We concentrate on the next game. That's what we've done all season. That's how it is. Don't look too far ahead. But be the best version of you, understand what's required of you. Let's go."

Image source, Shutterstock

Will Grimsby return to the third tier for the first time in 22 years? Can Salford City make club history and reach League One for the first time ever?

Or will it be one of Chesterfield or Notts County who go up?

Let us know your thoughts on how you think the play-offs will shake out in the coming days.

You can get involved via the yellow button on the left of this page if you are on desktop or a tablet - and at the top of the page if you are on a mobile device.

Image source, Opta

Grimsby Town boss David Artell makes four changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Tranmere on the final day of the season.

Reece Staunton, Harvey Rodgers, Clarke Oduor and Jaze Kabia all come in.

Jayden Sweeney, Tyrell Warren, Jamie Walker and Charles Vernam drop to the bench.

Image source, Opta

Karl Robinson makes three changes for Salford City from the 0-0 draw at Crawley.

Kelly N'Mai, Haji Mnoga and Kallum Cesay start, while Ollie Turton and Rosaire Longelo are among the subs.

Princewill Ehibhatiomhan is not in the squad.

Salford City

Image source, Getty Images

Salford City were on the brink of winning promotion to League One for the first time in their history on the final day of the season.

But a goalless draw at relegation-battling Crawley meant they could not capitalise on Cambridge United's 0-0 draw with Crewe and the Ammies missed out by a single point.

Now they will have to do it the hard way if they are to continue the remarkable rise under the ownership of Manchester United legend Gary Neville and Co.

Salford were playing in the eighth tier of English football when the Class of '92 took over the club in 2014 and won four promotions in five seasons to reach League Two by 2019.

This is now their seventh consecutive campaign in the fourth tier. The closest they have come to reaching League One before this was in the 2022-23 season when they finished seventh but lost in the play-off semi-final to Stockport County.

Neville and David Beckham bought out their former United team-mates Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Philip Neville last year, and they are potentially three games away from watching boss Karl Robinson and his side create history.

Grimsby Town

Image source, Shutterstock

It has been 22 years since Grimsby Town were relegated from the third tier of English football and this is the closest they have been to a return since losing the League Two play-off final in 2006.

The Mariners have been on a turbulent journey to get to this point, going down to the National League on two separate occasions between 2010 and 2022.

When David Artell's side were languishing in 16th and 10 points adrift of the play-off places following a Boxing Day draw with Oldham, this opportunity seemed like nothing more than a dream.

But Grimsby won 15 of their final 24 games in the second half of the season, picking up more points (50) than any other side in that time, to make a burst into the top seven.

They also did the double over Salford City in the league and may well fancy their chances of getting to Wembley.

Image source, PA Media

If only it was that simple, eh? Or maybe it is?

Many teams have tried and failed, while some have enjoyed play-off football more than others.

But is there a tried-and-tested method for succeeding? What do winning teams typically do on their way to glory? And, even more importantly, what should they avoid?

BBC Sport has piled into the data, got a headache from looking at a spreadsheet, and put together some things to watch out for.

You can take a look at how winning the first leg and keeping clean sheets might be the answer here.

Image source, Shutterstock

Bromley, MK Dons and Cambridge United are already up, but who will join them?

Grimsby Town put together a strong finish to the season with nine wins from their final 15 games to sneak into seventh spot by two points.

Salford City will be kicking themselves as they missed out on automatic promotion by a point to the U's after being held to a goalless draw at relegation battlers Crawley Town on the last day of the season.

This is the second time the Ammies have been in in the League Two play-offs, having lost in the semi-final in the 2022-23 season.

Chesterfield will be riding a wave after winning their final-day showdown victory against Swindon to secure a play-off spot.

Meanwhile, Notts County are back in the play-offs for a second successive season following semi-final disappointment a year ago.

The Magpies might also have regrets about missing out on automatic promotion by two points after just three wins from their final eight games.