HULL City boss Steve Bruce has challenged his side to find "one final push" and etch their names in East Yorkshire folklore with promotion to the Premier League today.
After third-placed Watford held their nerve to record a 2-1 win at Leicester last night, the Tigers travel to Barnsley knowing a victory of their own will secure only the second top-flight promotion in the club's 109-year history.
Over 5,500 fans will make the short journey to South Yorkshire hopeful of witnessing a landmark day at Oakwell and Bruce is calling on his side to seize a defining moment in their careers.
"This group of players deserve this chance," he said.
"They've worked hard and won 24 games this season. Some of the football we've played, at least until the pitches started to wear, was wonderful. I've certainly enjoyed watching us this season because we've got players you'd pay to come and watch. We just need one final push to get over the line.
"How many times have we gone away from home and shown that sort of resilience? It's what's got us in this position.
"Let's hope that we've got one more performance like that in us, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't.
"If we're not ready for this game then we'll never be ready."
City's hopes of being handed promotion last night were dashed after Watford claimed a well-earned triumph at Nigel Pearson's Leicester.
The result reduced the Tigers' advantage in second place to just one point but, with only one more fixture remaining for Gianfranco Zola's men, City require just a win from their final two games of the campaign against Barnsley and at home to Cardiff next weekend.
Bruce will be keen to see his side avoid any final day nerves by winning at Oakwell today, but is wary of the threat posed by relegation-haunted Barnsley.
The Tykes could be all-but relegated to League One if results go against them this afternoon to end a seven-year stay in the Championship.
Bruce said: "How many times have I said it this season? The honesty and endeavour of the Championship is there for all to see and Barnsley will be preparing for this game to win it.
"They need the three points as much as we need them, for completely different reasons. That in itself makes it an even bigger game but I'm quietly confident we can match Watford's result."
While City briefly held a seven-point lead just seven days ago, back-to-back wins for Watford have reapplied the pressure ahead of today's penultimate game of the season.
The Hornets were unfazed in their make-or-break fixture at the King Power Stadium last night and victory over Nigel Pearson's men never really looked in doubt once Troy Deeney and Nathaniel Chalobah scored in quick succession late in the first half.
More on Hull City's big day• Team news for Barnsley v Hull City at Oakwell
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• Hull City's Corry Evans ready for long-awaited crack at Premier League
• Ian Ashbee: Hull City must be patient at Barnsley
• Hull City will be rewarded with £120m windfall in Premier League
