FOR Town’s two leaders, manager Mark Cooper and skipper Nathan Thompson, the next two games are arguably the biggest of their careers so far.

Cooper led Darlington to FA Trophy honours and won titles in non-league and Thompson was part of the Town side that won League Two.

However both would concede that leading the club to a Wembley final and promotion to the Championship would better all that has gone before.

Cooper, of course, has been in the Championship with Peterborough and would love a chance to prove he can manage at that level after short-lived spell at London Road.

For Thompson, this will be his first actual involvement in a League One play-off. He was injured the last time Town reached this stage two seasons ago and described the prospect of leading his home town club out in the play-offs as a ‘dream come true’.

The play-offs are a unique experience in football, cup format with league prizes. Cooper has been preparing for it since the Rochdale game last month.

“Now, for me, is big and probably the biggest test of my managerial career, in terms of trying to get to a play-off final. We know it’s going to be tough but come Thursday we’ll be ready,” he told the local media.

“We’re trying to be as organised and as prepared as we can. We concentrate on ourselves and do what we do well, and give the players the information they need on the opposition.

“We’re really, really focusing on what we do well.”

Thompson is feeling the benefits of that preparation. Town’s run-in saw them play nine games between the start of April and May 3, but having sat out the season-ender against Leyton Orient, he and most of the first team have had nine days to prepare.

“It’s massive (having time to prepare). We can go back to the drawing board and really reflect on what hasn’t been working for us recently,” said Thompson.

“Over the course of April we haven’t had the chance to do that, it’s been recover from one game and prepare for the next. Being able to go back and look at where we’ve struggled has been extremely important.”

Not having to fine tune their distinctive brand of football has been an issue for Swindon and their play has become notably disjointed over the last month. Having enjoyed a longer period to work on their tactics, Thompson is predicting a return to their early-season form.

“I just think we got into habits that were good earlier in the season and we got away from doing them. You take things for granted and it’s a case of going back over it,” added the skipper.

“I guess it’s like learning a foreign language - you fall out of habit and it’s case of going back over it and ironing out any problems.

“This season has shown when we don’t do that we get caught up in a game that’s not our style of play and ultimately we tend to lose those games.”

With the first leg upon us, Cooper wants his players to knuckle down and forget the hullabaloo going on around them. He is stressing tonight is just a normal game of football, with just a few more people watching.

“Once all the build-up is done, you have to play the game,” he said.

“I’ll be stressing to the players to concentrate on the game. Just go and play, it’s 11 versus 11, the pitch is green, the ball is round and the only difference is there’s going to be 30,000 people there.

“It’s on the day and whoever performs the best on the day will go through, experience or no experience.”

The experience the skipper will hope to draw on is from the 5-2 win Town enjoyed over the Blades earlier in the season.

That was one of the high water marks in Swindon’s season in terms of performance. Thompson believes going back to that kind of fearless mentality will serve him and his teammates well.

“The risks are big, the rewards are even greater for us,” explains Thompson “It’s making sure we’re comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and starting form the back. When we do that we’ve shown throughout season we’re capable of winning games comfortably.

“If we beat that first press then teams are vulnerable because they’ve committed four or five and it leaves them exposed at the back.

“You only have to look at the Sheffield United game here when they tried that and in the space of 25-30 minutes we were 3-0 up.

“We know that if we go about our game in the right way and the way we have been trying to implement in training we’ll be doing what will be good for us.”

One thing is for certain it is clear Town’s two pillars of the touchline and the back line are up for it. Thompson is well-rested and feeling fit and Cooper is motivated.

“The rest has been good for (my foot), come Sheffield United it will be perfect,” Thompson concluded.

“We’re expecting a tough game and a packed out crowd at Bramall Lane. It’s a massive experience for us and I can’t wait for it.”

A sentiment reinforced by his boss.

“To go to Bramall Lane – one of the old-fashioned stadiums, a fantastic atmosphere and fantastic arena – is something to look forward to.

“I’m looking forward to it, I’m nervous, waking up in the middle of the night, worrying ‘have we done enough?’ “You have to get that out of your mind and concentrate on the game.

“We’d rather be here than sat on a beach now, eating our ice creams.”