Who can forget the amazing First Division play-off final of 1998 when Charlton drew 4-4 with Sunderland before winning 7-6 on penalties?

Or what about 1993 when Swindon beat Leicester 4-3, or 1995 when Bolton beat Reading by the same score - or even the Second Division final of 1999 when Manchester City came from 2-0 down with two minutes to go and won on penalties.

Some of those memories have gone into football folklore - and this season the journey begins tonight, Friday, when Crystal Palace take on Sunderland at Selhurst Park with both clubsdreaming of a return to the Premiership.

Palace have enjoyed an incredible run since Iain Dowie arrived as manager last December, rising from the bottom six to the top six.

Now he is urging his players to complete the job.

He said: "This is a great opportunity for us and we must take it. It's the biggest game of my managerial career and I know how much it hurts to lose in the play-offs because I was in charge of Oldham when we lost to QPR last year. There is so much at stake."

If Palace or Sunderland are to return to the top flight they will have to face either West Ham or Ipswich in the final in Cardiff.

The Hammers and the Tractor Boys meet at Portman Road in their semi-final first leg on Saturday and it is likely to be a close-run affair.

West Ham won 2-1 away at Ipswich in the league earlier this season, but lost 2-1 at home to Joey Royle's side, which gives some indication of how closely matched the two teams are.

Like Palace, West Ham have anew manager in the shape of Alan Pardew.

Pardew said:"This will be a tough game and we a have a lot of respect for the Ipswich team and their manager Joe Royle.

"Jim Magilton is an experienced player and he is a threat because he isin great form at the moment.

"The weight of expectations from our fans means that we have been under a lot of pressure in every game this season and this match will be just like a league game in that respect.

"We will be able to take the pressure and barring a appalling result in the away leg our ground will be jumping for the return leg and they will not fancy their chances here."

Also on Saturday, in the Second Division play-offs, Hartlepool take on Bristol City aiming for back-to-back promotions.

City, however, are determined to reach the final after only missing out on automatic promotion to QPR on the very last day of the season.

In the Third Division, Huddersfield are hoping to bounce back to Division 2 at the first attempt when they travel to Lincoln City.

Then, on Sunday, the action continues with Swindon against Brighton in Division 2 and Northampton v Mansfield in the Third.

Football League Play-Offs 2003/04
Date Stage Division Match
14 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 1 Crystal Palace v Sunderland
15 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 1 Ipswich T v West Ham Utd
15 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 2 Hartlepool v Bristol City
15 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 3 Lincoln City v Huddesfield
16 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 2 Swindon T v Brighton & HA
16 May 04 SF, 1st Leg Division 3 Northampton v Mansfield
17 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 1 Sunderland v Crystal Palace
18 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 1 West Ham Utd v Ipswich T
19 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 2 Bristol City v Hartlepool
19 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 3 Huddesfield T v Lincoln City
20 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 2 Brighton & HA v Swindon T
20 May 04 SF, 2nd Leg Division 3 Mansfield v Northampton