MAT Sadler knows all about Watford's prowess in the play-offs, not that he's ever experienced it in the yellow half mind you.

The former Birmingham man was in the crowd for the Blues' play-off semi-final against Watford in 1999 when the Hornets were victorious, thanks to Alec Chamberlain heroics in the resulting penalty shoot out.

Now of course, Sadler is a Hornet through and through and was keen to get the message across.

He said: "Blues had a disappointing result last week, but honestly, really and truly, I'm all about Watford now. Our result is the most important thing in my life and I can't think past that at the moment.

"Back then, Birmingham got the early goal in the second leg which levelled the tie and they expected to go on and win.

"But in true Watford spirit, they dug in and restricted them. Of course we all know what happened next, Chambo went on to make a few great saves in the shoot out and ruined my day!

"I've never mentioned it to him; I think I was that scarred by it that I've pushed it to the back of my mind. Mind you, I'm sure he gets that all the time, people coming up to him telling him he ruined their life! He's made that many saves that I'm sure he gets it all the time."

But enough of the past, Sunday heralds the first of three games that signifies Watford's imminent future and Sadler knows how imperative these games will be.

"It feels like we've got another chance, we're in the play-offs by whatever margin - the fact is we're in there. We're in with a fighting chance and we're three games from promotion. The sun is shining, everyone's working hard and it's been a nice few days.

"These are the biggest games I've played in my career. That's the magnitude of them, but we'll approach it in the same way as we would any other game, it's just there is an added incentive to the game that it's a knock-out tie.

"There will be two teams going hell for leather wanting to win and no one giving up, this is their chance and this is where they want to be playing, and that goes for both sides.

"Hull are a good team and finished high, they were consistent and we went there recently and got beaten 3-0 so we owe them. We're still bitter as it wasn't too long ago. Now we need to get out there and express ourselves."

And the Hornets will have to if they are to achieve the pre-season ambition of promotion. The two automatic spots slipped from their grasp, but a chance has been given to still achieve the initial aim.

"The goal was to finish in the top two and we failed at that goal, but there aren't many times in your life where you fail at something and yet you get a chance to rectify it straight away, but we do have that chance and that's what we're all holding on to.

"It will be a tough encounter on Sunday, they will want to win the game without doubt. I think the thing about our home form has been a bit of a myth. I don't believe it's because we're at Vicarage Road, it's just the way that games have gone because there are some that we should have won.

"It's possibly how the other teams set themselves up, but we've had the opportunities to win games. In every game, a rub of the green here or there and we would have won them. But that's the past, and the future is winning promotion.

"Going into these games we're the underdogs, we just scraped in, but this country loves an underdog and you should never rule them out. We'll all be looking to show what we can do and we're all desperate for the game to come so we can set a few wrongs right.

"It's easy to build the game up because you know how much everyone is looking forward to it. The final is at Wembley - win that and you're in the Premiership. What bigger incentive could you need?"