"Leeds United are obviously one of the favourites to win the play-offs, which is understandable when you consider the season they've had.
"To come back from their 15-point deduction and finish in the top six - and, at one stage, to have been looking at the top of the table - is absolutely superb, and I don't think many people believed they could do it.
" They've had the turmoil of losing one manager and gaining another but the change between Dennis Wise and Gary McAllister seemed to be seamless. Okay, they had one or two dodgy results shortly after Gary took over but Leeds are going into the play-offs with a real buzz about the club.
"I saw their victory over Carlisle United last month and it was an excellent game between two attacking sides which Leeds deserved to win. Gary's changed their style of football and his team are no longer quite as direct as they were under Dennis.
"I have to say that signing Dougie Freedman on loan from Crystal Palace was a masterstroke, and he'll be one of the key players in the play-offs - the type of player who could be the difference between winning and losing. In Neil Kilkenny they've got a guy who can pull all the strings, and Bradley Johnson's a talented midfielder with a cracking left foot.
"I'm also pleased to see Jonny Howson in the midfield because he was a player I came across when I worked with Leeds United's academy. He was a very young kid back then but he always played above his age level and it's no surprise to me that he's come through into the first team now.
"Leeds are a solid and talented team from back to front and they'll take some beating."
Andy Ritchie on Carlisle United:
"A club who some people argue are the surprise package of League One, and I'd probably agree. But they've done tremendously well to hold out until the end of the season and it was an achievement in itself to have had a chance of automatic promotion on the final day.
"I'd give a lot of praise to Greg Abbott - their assistant boss and a really good mate of mine - who took hold of the reins while Carlisle were waiting to appoint John Ward as their manager. He kept the results going during a fantastic period when the club could have slipped away, and it allowed John to come in and carry on the good work with Greg's able assistance.
"Carlisle have plenty of experience in their squad and experience does count for an awful lot in the play-offs - sometimes it can be the difference between a team who hold their nerve at the right time and a team who fail to produce the goods when it matters.
"Carlisle are another team who play football the right way, which is true of all of John Ward's sides, and their semi-final against Leeds United will be very interesting. I'm expecting two tough, tight affairs.
"It's fair to say that Carlisle have had a bit of a wobble recently and lost a couple of games they were expected to win. That might tip the balance against them but when you're in the pressure-cooker of the play-off semi-finals, you're not really affected by past results or performances. It's two games, all or nothing, and nothing else matters."
Andy Ritchie on Doncaster Rovers:
"I can't speak for Doncaster's players but I'm pretty sure they thought they were going to finish in the second automatic promotion position. A win at Cheltenham last weekend would have given them that but unfortunately for Doncaster, their last game of the season was a very difficult one.
"Cheltenham is a difficult place to go at the best of times, and they'll have fought that little bit harder than usual because they weren't completely safe from relegation. For that reason, I don't think you can call it a loss of nerve and Sean O'Driscoll will hope that is hasn't dented the confidence of his squad too much.
"It will be a big disappointment for them to realise that they have to take part in the play-offs and I don't know how they will respond to that, but they are easily good enough on their day to win promotion this way.
"You hear people saying all the time that you can't pass your way out of League One but that's simply not true. I did it with Barnsley, and here is another team who have gone very close by using attractive tactics.
"In my opinion, Doncaster are one of the best footballing sides in the division - perhaps second to Swansea City - and there are so many players in their squad who you could pick out as match-winners.
"James Coppinger has had an excellent season, and Richie Wellens, has been outstanding in midfield - very influential and as consistent as anyone.
"I'm a big fan of Matt Mills, the centre-back who Doncaster signed on loan from Manchester City, and you've got other guys like Mark McCammon, Paul Heffernan and James Hayter who can do a job whenever you need them to. Doncaster are a team you should never write off."
Andy Ritchie on Southend United:
"Not many punters' favourites to reach the Championship, but I feel that Southend are strong side - stronger, maybe, than most realise.
Roots Hall is a very difficult stadium to win at, and their semi-final with Doncaster may well come down to the first leg played there.
"Southend have a very good home record and I saw what a talented team they are when I went there with Huddersfield earlier in the season. We had our goalkeeper sent off, which was a big reason behind the fact that we lost 4-1, but their players were obviously full of confidence and clearly believed in themselves.
"I guess it was inevitable that they'd make some impression on the league after coming down from the Championship last season and a few people may have picked them out at the start of the year as potential promotion winners. They are probably the easiest team to under-estimate but there are plenty of reasons not to do that.
"Their manager, Steve Tilson, pictured, is a talented manager who has been there before and worn the T-shirt when it comes to the play-offs. Paul Brush, his assistant, is another guy who knows all about these situations.
"There are bigger clubs in League One than Southend but you'd have to say that they're set up as well as any other team to win promotion.
"They've got a manager who has achieved success already and players who were there with him at the time.
"They've also got a system in place and a style of play which suits their squad, and they've got a stadium which can work in their favour. The fans are on top of you and Doncaster will have their work cut tomorrow.
"I actually think that Southend might just get the better of them. These play-offs really are wide open."