So, here we are again. A year after successfully negotiating the playoff Semis against Oxford United, now another bunch of yellow-shirted players await City. Richard Logan's equaliser some time on Sunday morning at Burton set up a Playoff Semi full of local interest as Paul Buckle's Torquay United lie in wait. Paul Tisdale rested several players last weekend with the job of reaching the Playoffs already done, but this will have served to give him a selection headache - the performance of Lee Elam in particular catching the eye. However, Elam and co may well make way for a return to the side for those who sat out the epic 4-4 draw at Burton.

Torquay's season, which promised so much, fell away somewhat as Aldershot maintained their stunning form to gain automatic promotion. A Playoff berth was never seriously in doubt, but some surprising results, in particular a home defeat against relegated Farsley Celtic, will have raised doubts in the minds of supporters of the Gulls about their promotion credentials. The ex-City foursome of manager Buckle, goalkeeper Martin Rice, defender Chris Todd and striker Lee Phillips will all take a lot of pride in dumping their former employers out at this stage - perhaps particularly Rice given his Wembley experience of last season where he stormed out of the club on being told Paul Jones would be starting.

If the Playoff matches throw up even half of the excitement provided in Boxing Day's televised encounter alone the fans of both sides will be in for a treat. City's 4-3 victory that day may have been more comfortable but for Tim Sills' Dying Swan act to get Danny Seaborne sent off. The return on New Years Day saw Torquay win 1-0 thanks to Sills. With no "Away Goals" rule a similar pair of scorelines would see the match go into Extra Time and Penalties. Can your nerves stand it? Get on that Playoff rollercoaster!