Aston Villa warned to prepare for 'derby-like' atmosphere in Middlesbrough play-off showdown

The Championship rivals meet in a semi-final first-leg at the Riverside Stadium (kick-off 5.15pm), each aiming to gain the upper hand ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at Villa Park.

Bruce believes Villa have been handed the toughest tie possible against Tony Pulis’s Boro, who finished one place behind them in the table in fifth.

And he reckons how his team handle the occasion could go a long way to deciding the outcome.

“It will be frantic – almost like a derby atmosphere. These games have that feel to them,” he said.

“We have some good experience. Hopefully we can handle it. We have people who have been there and done it and worn the T-shirt. Let’s enjoy the challenge and see if we can get to Wembley.”

Bruce does not believe preparations for tonight’s clash could have gone better. Defensive duo Neil Taylor (hamstring) and Axel Tuanzebe (ankle) are both set to miss out, though Villa will welcome back Birkir Bjarnason after several weeks out with a back injury.

Sam Johnstone will also play, though the on-loan Manchester United keeper will travel north later than the rest of the squad as he awaits the birth of his first child.

“Since Monday when we arrived in the training ground there has been a different feel,” said Bruce.

“You can almost smell the hot dogs, a big game on the horizon.

“Preparation is key to it. That has gone well. We have done as much as we can. Let’s hope we can go and perform on the night.”

Bruce, who has a perfect record in the play-offs having gone up with both Blues and Hull, believes the key is changing as little of the normal routine as possible.

The manager has no rousing pre-game speech planned and hopes the experience in his team – with several players having also experienced glory in the play-offs before – will prove decisive. Both Ahmed Elmohamady and Robert Snodgrass were part of Bruce’s Hull team which won promotion two years ago.

“That is why I have brought them here. I hope they can do it again,” he said. “That is why they here. Can they handle playing for Aston Villa? Instantly all of those players I have spoken about have handled it. “Let’s hope they can handle the ultimate, which is the play-offs.” He continued: “You try and do the same and let it come naturally. You don’t have to do anything else in terms of motivation. “The big thing is to perform on the big stage. That is when big players come along. “Lets hope we have got more than Middlesbrough. “Certainly, they have big players too, people who have performed in the Premier League week-in, week-out. I am expecting a tough game, like everyone is predicting. Let’s hope we come out on top.”