Scunthorpe midfielder Duane Holmes is relishing the prospect of taking part in his first play-off campaign.
The 22-year-old and his United team-mates head to Millwall on Thursday night for the first of a two-legged semi-final tie, and Holmes says he hopes to make a positive contribution.
Speaking to The Iron PlayerHD, Holmes said: “It’s a new challenge for me.
"I’m really looking forward to it personally, because it’s something I’ve never experienced before, so hopefully I can get on the pitch and help the team.
“We’re two games away from the biggest match of the players’ careers, and it’s something we’re looking forward to.”
The Iron enter Thursday’s match in a rich vein of form, and Holmes believes the confidence generated from those triumphs should stand the visitors in good stead.
“We’ve won five on the bounce, and it’s seven victories out of the past nine. That’s great form to take into the play-offs, and we don’t fear anyone,” he insisted.
“It’s great to carry that momentum into the play-offs and we feel like we’re playing really well at the minute, so long may that continue.
“We just need to focus on ourselves. We’ve been saying all year, but we’ll just focus on what we can control, and we feel like we can beat anyone.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game, they’re a very physical side, but we’re going to have to stand up to it.”
Holmes was one of a number of players who returned to the Scunthorpe starting eleven against Coventry City last time out, with Kevin van Veen, Sam Mantom and Jordan Clarke also making their first starts following injury.
The American states to have that wealth of numbers is healthy, with a big week on the horizon for the club.
“It’s good that the gaffer will have a little selection headache, where as before the team was sort of picking itself, so I think that’s a good problem for him to have,” Holmes added.
“I felt like I did alright. I got a bit of cramp which was to be expected, but I was happy to be out there, and helping the team out.”
See much more from Duane Holmes and Graham Alexander on The Iron PlayerHD.