Mansfield forcing the issue at Rodney Parade.

CJ Hamilton whips down the left after a lovely switch and puts the ball dangerously in to the box.

Newport then roar up the other end, and a cross from the left at pace overruns the chasing Robbie Willmott.

Lively.

Mansfield get a corner, swing it into the box but Newport do just enough to sweep it clear, Mickey Demetriou's boot hacking it away to safety.

Pitch bathed in early evening sunshine. Proper night for it.

It's off. Welcome to the play-offs everyone...

Never short of drama.

Newport and Mansfield kick us off. Newport have it.

Teams are out onto the surface at Rodney Parade, which looks lovely in patches, but in others you can tell it doubles up as a rugby union ground...

Could be interesting. Not far away now.

Image source, Getty Images

Mansfield had to put their frustration and disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion to one side and refocus on tonight's game after last weekend.

Thankfully, boss David Flitcroft said he had it covered with his players - who are bang up for the job.

"Hurt and deflation was there, but with me as the manager of the football plan as the leaders is that it doesn’t last too long," the 45-year-old said.

"You pick yourself up, you go again and you fight again and I’ve got a group of players behind me that are prepared to do that."

Image source, Getty Images

Few personalities connected with Newport will be as delighted with their achievements than manager Mike Flynn.

The 38-year-old was born there, played for his team across four different periods (one was when he re-registered as a player while a coach) and is now the gaffer.

He played in Newport's 2013 National League Promotion Final win over fellow Welsh side Wrexham at Wembley - in fact joining Mansfield in the Football League.

As a Liverpool fan who has been through the rigours this week, this is the last thing his heart needs.

"Being manager of Newport is doing nothing for my health; neither is being a supporter of Liverpool," he said.

"Newport is a big part of my life, and growing up Liverpool was the team I looked out for. So they don't half keep you on your toes."

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at Rodney Parade

The atmosphere is building at Rodney Parade for Newport's biggest league match here since the 2013 play-off semi-final with Grimsby.

Exiles boss Michael Flynn was a player that night and must now plot a route to Wembley again as Newport look to maintain their fine form that sees them 10 games unbeaten.

A bumper crowd is expected tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Fit-again Joss Labadie is added to the Newport bench, bringing them up to full complement after they ran with just six subs in the season closer against Morecambe.

Mansfield name Ben Turner ahead of Mal Benning, while Gethin Jones comes off the bench to replace Matt Preston and Danny Rose replaces Will Tomlinson. Nicky Ajose is added to the bench.

Newport: Day, Butler, Demetriou, O'Brien, Poole, Bennett, Dolan, Sheehan, Willmott, Matt, Amond

Subs: Pipe, Labadie, Marsh-Brown, Azeez, Bakinson, Crofts, McKirdy

Mansfield: Logan, Pearce, Turner, Sweeney, Jones, MacDonald, Bishop, Hamilton, Mellis, Rose, Walker

Subs: J. Smith, Benning, Khan, Atkinson, Ajose, Grant, A. Smith

This is how it went in League Two this season.

Tight wasn't it?

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

If Newport are buzzing to be here, it's fair to say Mansfield are fuming.

Their 'winner takes all' last day encounter with MK Dons ended in a 1-0 defeat, and meant the Dons took the final automatic promotion spot at their expense.

However, that disappointment should not take away from a remarkable campaign under David Flitcroft, who led the Stags to safety last season and has turned Mansfield into genuine promotion candidates.

However, they'll need to refocus sharpish if they are to avoid further torment.

Image source, Getty Images

Newport are the classic late arrival to the party. When they lost to Northampton in mid-March, County were 13th and eight points off the top seven.

However a run of six wins in 10 unbeaten games up to the end of the season propelled them into the play-off places and the possiblity of glory.

Last season's 11th place finish followed consecutive squeaky-bum-time 22nd placings, and this year's achievement is testament to the work of Mike Flynn and his squad.

Image source, Getty Images

Two clubs from areas steeped in mining are paired this evening, but their outlook is up rather than down.

Newport and Mansfield. Tough towns. Proud heritage. No shortage of desire.

Tonight, they start their quest to win promotion in the first of the League Two play-off semi-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

While some teams are on the beach now, sipping on cocktails and nursing the aches and strains of a 46-game season...

...for others the campaign is just getting started.

The EFL play-offs are here. Three games, and you could be up. What bigger carrot do you need?