With only one more promotion place up for grabs in League Two, the playoffs begin at Home Park on Friday evening when Plymouth Argyle play host to Wycombe Wanderers in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

The winners will face either Southend United or Stevenage in the final at Wembley later this month.

Plymouth Argyle

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The Pilgrims are finally beginning to move on an upward curve once again following a dismal few years for the club, which saw them plummet from the Championship to the basement division via two successive relegations amid a host of financial problems off the pitch.

John Sheridan took charge two years ago with the club struggling at the foot of League Two and he has steadily improved their fortunes, leading them to a 10th-placed finish last season before bettering that this time around by finishing seventh.

Plymouth secured their spot in the playoffs by finishing three points ahead of nearest rivals Luton Town, with an impressive 2-0 win at promoted Shrewsbury Town on the final day rounding off the regular season in style.

Shrewsbury still had the title to play for on that day, so Sheridan and his side will be buoyed by the fact that they dispatched a promotion rival away from home with relative comfort.

Plymouth are in decent form of late, winning three of their last six games and scoring nine goals in that run, which suggests that they will have the firepower to trouble Wycombe.

Recent form: LWDLWW

Wycombe Wanderers

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Wycombe missed out on automatic promotion by a whisker.

The Chairboys did what they needed to do on the final day by beating Northampton Town, but Bury's 1-0 win at Tranmere Rovers was enough to see the Shakers finish in the final automatic promotion place by a point.

Gareth Ainsworth and his side will have to put that disappointment behind them ahead of their playoff showdown with Plymouth. They will head into these two matches as the favourites to reach the final, having finished 13 points clear of their opponents.

Ainsworth has done a fine job at Adams Park in his first full campaign in charge, keeping Wycombe in the Football League altogether on the final day of last season before turning them into promotion contenders this time around.

The Buckinghamshire side boast the best away record in League Two. During the regular season they picked up 47 points on the road, five points more than nearest rivals Burton Albion, who finished up as champions.

Their recent form is identical to Plymouth's, having picked up 10 points from their last six games.

Recent form: LWWDLW

Team News

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Sheridan has no fresh injury concerns for his Plymouth side, but it is probable that he will make changes to the side that won at Shrewsbury on the final day.

Reuben Reid, who is the club's top scorer with 18 in the league, will come back into the side along with Lewis Alessandra, after the pair were rested for that match. Zak Ansah and Ryan Brunt are expected to make way.

Midfielders Jason Banton and Tyler Harvey are also in contention for a starting place.

For Wycombe, Ainsworth has been sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Matt Ingram, who picked up a knee injury at Northampton. However, it is thought that he will be fit in time for Saturday.

Sam Saunders and Joe Jacobson could also return to the side after they were left out at Sixfields, while the experienced Matt Bloomfield could come in to shore up the midfield.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
McCormick, Nelson, McHugh, Hartley, Mellor; Bobby Reid, O'Connor, Blizzard, Holmes-Dennis; Alessandra, Reuben Reid

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ingram, Bean, Pierre, Mawson, Wood; Ephraim; Murphy, Yennaris, Craig; Hayes, Holloway

Head To Head

In 20 previous meetings between the two sides there have been eight wins for Plymouth, six for Wycombe and six draws.

At Home Park the tally is in Plymouth's favour, with five wins for the Pilgrims, four for the Chairboys and two draws.

Both sides were victorious away from home in this fixture during the regular season, with Wycombe coming out on top the last time they visited the West Country in September, courtesy of a solitary goal from Paul Hayes.

Alessandra and Peter Hartley secured a 2-0 win for Plymouth when they visited Adams Park in February.

We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

The first legs of playoff semi-finals tend to be tight, cagey affairs and there's every chance that this one will go the same way. Plymouth will be hoping that they can establish a lead ahead of the return game, but Wycombe have been strong defensively all season and have enough to keep the dangerous front pair of Reid and Alessandra quiet.

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