CRYSTAL Palace's play-off first leg clash could become a 'cagey' affair believes Palace assistant boss Keith Millen.
With both teams possessing an array of attacking talent, the rivalry and intensity for such a big game in the circumstances could nullify a potential spectacle, but Millen says he and the players want to walk out to a sold out Selhurst Park.
"It will be great to see a huge crowd at home because the players have worked hard over 46 games to get this far now," he told Advertiser Sport.
"The atmosphere will be great so we'll be looking forward to it - the lads deserve this after what they've put in this year.
"This game in particular does add some spice to it because of who we're playing.
"We have said to the lads 'well done' of getting here first and maybe it was always meant to be that we played Brighton."
And the assistant confirms there are no new injury worries ahead of the game, while Owen Garvan has continued to build his fitness after returning from injury recently.
But whether he will be able to play two games in 72 hours remains to be seen.
"All the players are well so we have a fully fit squad apart from Paddy McCarthy and Jonathan Parr," said Millen.
"We'll have to look at how Owen is because it was a big ask and he took a risk last Saturday because he had been out for so long, but he lasted well and he's better for it.
"He's had a good rest so he'll be in good shape if selected and then we'll reassess him after Friday's game."
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With both teams possessing an array of attacking talent, the rivalry and intensity for such a big game in the circumstances could nullify a potential spectacle, but Millen says he and the players want to walk out to a sold out Selhurst Park.
"It will be great to see a huge crowd at home because the players have worked hard over 46 games to get this far now," he told Advertiser Sport.
"The atmosphere will be great so we'll be looking forward to it - the lads deserve this after what they've put in this year.
"This game in particular does add some spice to it because of who we're playing.
"We have said to the lads 'well done' of getting here first and maybe it was always meant to be that we played Brighton."
And the assistant confirms there are no new injury worries ahead of the game, while Owen Garvan has continued to build his fitness after returning from injury recently.
But whether he will be able to play two games in 72 hours remains to be seen.
"All the players are well so we have a fully fit squad apart from Paddy McCarthy and Jonathan Parr," said Millen.
"We'll have to look at how Owen is because it was a big ask and he took a risk last Saturday because he had been out for so long, but he lasted well and he's better for it.
"He's had a good rest so he'll be in good shape if selected and then we'll reassess him after Friday's game."
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest Palace news, exclusives and live match updates at www.twitter.com/AdvertiserSport
Palace fans on Facebook, have your say on our page at www.facebook.com/AdvertiserSport
Watch our exclusive away videos following Palace around the country on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport
