South Bank could be lost again

But the promotion-chasing club are ready to leave more than 1,000 seats in the Jack Harris Stand unsold rather than hand them to rival fans.

Wolves have drawn up their ticketing plans in the event of Mick McCarthy's team clinching a top-six finish and the prospect of the South Bank, home to their most vocal fans, again being decked out in the colours of the opposition remains the most sensitive issue.

In January, the club were forced to give Albion fans that end of the ground, a decision which triggered a furious response from home supporters forced to make way for more than 5,000 invading Baggies.

In order to meet the 15 per cent allocation any semi-final opponent would be due, Wolves again have to offer up the South Bank.

But they are ready to sacrifice thousands of pounds of revenue and leave more than 1,000 seats netted off and unoccupied in an effort to limit the psychological advantage to their opponents.

The play-offs scramble means one of three Midlands neighbours – including Albion but also involving Birmingham and Stoke – could face Wolves in a two leg semi-final.

"While we are not guaranteed a place in the play-offs, we have to be prepared and the location of away fans is a big decision," said chief executive Jez Moxey, anxious to avoid the PR gaffe which provided such an angry backdrop to January's Albion match.

"This is why we have spent considerable time discussing the options."