PHIL Brown believes Hull City will follow in the footsteps of his ground-breaking 2007-08 side and clinch a place in the Premier League – if they thrive on the pressures that lie in wait.
Steve Bruce's men stand just 90 minutes away from becoming only the second side in City's 109-year history to win promotion to the top flight as they prepare for a dramatic final day this weekend.
A win over Championship title winners Cardiff at the KC Stadium would guarantee they join the Bluebirds on a direct path to the Premier League, but anything less would leave the door open for Watford to snatch second spot.
Five years have passed since Brown's side wrote their name in club folklore with a play-off final win over Bristol City at Wembley, and the former boss is urging the Tigers to show courage on a similarly momentous occasion this weekend.
"Everyone in football, if they've got anything about them, would be envious of the position Hull City are in this weekend," said Brown, now manager of Southend.
"To go into the last game of the season with that £120m windfall still in their own hands is fantastic.
"It's a tough world at this end of the season, but you've got to thrive on this sort of pressure.
"It won't be easy but I believe they'll do it on Saturday, win automatic promotion and round off a great season.
"They've been up there all year and coped with the pressure. They've been shot at for six months and they've got one game left to shoot back."
Three games without a win has increased the size of City's challenge on Saturday and let Watford battle back into the automatic promotion picture with back-to-back wins.
A golden chance to seal second spot once and for all was spurned at the weekend when losing 2-0 at Barnsley but it was the manner of the Oakwell demise that worried the 5,900 travelling fans.
However, Brown says there can be room for deflation.
He added: "The most important aspect is the mind-set of the players. If you can get them focused and believing in themselves they'll do it.
"Steve will be a big player this week. The players will be looking at him and seeing what his mood is like under the pressure.
"You've just got to focus on what you're good at. Maybe the pressure has taken its toll a little bit, that's only natural, but Steve will be doing his utmost to keep them focused and positive all week.
"That way, when they cross the white line on Saturday, they'll be able to play the football that's taken them near the top of the league.
"They've been the second most consistent team in the Championship this season and it just needs one more performance to get them over the finishing line."
Brown will be in attendance at City's showdown with Cardiff in a media role and he will look forward to leading the congratulations if Bruce's men cling on to second spot.
He added: "It was great getting there the first time, but for the fans it'll be even better getting there the second time."
