Exeter City v Torquay United - preview

This is it then! The Gulls have drawn Exeter City in the Blue Square Premier League play-offs in part one of two, that will ultimately decide who repressents Devon at Wembley...

Right, forget the opposition, who are they anyway? Torquay United have got their regulation 'blip' defeat out of the way against Crawley at the weekend and are now all set to carry on serenely to regaining their Football League status.

It's is with huge irony that the Gulls have been thrust into the path of Exeter City after undergoing last Saturday's shock 1-2 defeat to Crawley at Plainmoor, thus setting up arguably the most important Devon derby ever, after Cambridge took a 0-2 away win at Northwich Victortia to snatch 2nd from Torquay.

Ex-Grecian as a player - and now Gulls boss Paul Buckle - has promised a commtitted performance from his Torquay United side that will reflect the previous encounters between the sides this season. Those results saw a win apiece - Exeter taking a 4-3 victory on Boxing Day, the Gulls avenging that defeat a week later, with a 1-0 victory at Plainmoor.

Team news for the important fixture sees United boosted by the news Chris Zebroski and Danny Stephens will be fit for the derby clash. Even better news may see influential midfielder Steve Adams recover in time for the clash. However, Roscoe D'Sane and Lee Mansell look set to miss out through injury.

Exeter have no fresh suspension or injury concerns and may themselves be boosted by the return of Steve Basham - who may be available to Grecians boss Paul Tisdale after a calf injury.

Ahead of the big derby, Torquay manager Paul Buckle declared - "I know Tis well and I know a lot of people at Exeter - and they know me very well. We've played each other twice this season, but I'm a great believer in that it's on the night."

And reflecting on past play-off experiences Buckle added - "I've played in enough play-offs to realise you need a bit of luck, as well as good play and you need to hold your nerve."