PETERBOROUGH V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Considering a scenario where all four play-off teams play to their full potential in League One, Sheffield Wednesday should comfortably win promotion.

They finished just two points behind second-placed Ipswich after spending much of the season in the League One promotion places.

For perspective, the Owls’ 96-point haul this season was the 13th-highest in the history of League One, and they should prove their quality in the play-offs.

Their squad couldn’t be in better shape, with a clean bill of health including Team of the Season member Josh Windass, who will be key across both legs.

Peterborough’s 26-goal striker Jonson Clarke-Harris is the obvious danger man on the other side, especially having already scored in a 2-0 victory over Wednesday in August, but it’s hard to see how Posh will stop the Owls in full flow.

Darren Ferguson’s side won just two of their final five matches this season and while it’s harsh to say they stumbled into the top six, they were beneficiaries of seventh-placed Derby’s poor form.

BEST BET: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAY-OFF FINAL 

BOLTON V BARNSLEY

In what is probably the tightest of all the play-off semi-finals across any division in the EFL, Barnsley should be favoured to make it to Wembley.

Their recent home form is among the best in League One, having won 14 games out of 15 in all competitions prior to two defeats when it was clear that they would be in the play-offs rather than the top two. Only champions Plymouth won more home games than Barnsley during the regular season.

As such, it’s easy to see their first leg (away) against Bolton becoming a safe, low-margin battle of attrition.

Michael Duff’s side have won and drawn in the league and cup at Bolton already this season, but the safest bet here will surely be to take them back to Oakwell.

Another of Barnsley’s strengths in this tie is their manager. Having won promotion to League One with Cheltenham in 2021, Duff is applying the same principles to his Tykes team. They are well drilled, organised and effective going forward, with James Norwood, Max Watters and Devante Cole among their cavalry.

That’s not to say Bolton aren’t a good side. They are and can capitalise on the absence of defender Mads Andersen, who started 44 matches before picking up an injury.

Since then, Barnsley have conceded six goals in two matches. One would fancy 20-goal Bolton striker Dion Charles to cause problems with an inexperienced defensive partnership.

Over the course of two legs, Barnsley should do enough to mitigate any potential issues at the wrong end of the pitch.

BEST BET: BARNSLEY TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

BEST OUTRIGHT BET: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY TO BEAT BARNSLEY IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

*Was price as of 11/05/23

Visit Betway's football betting page.