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"We couldn't have found ourselves with harder task, not only because it's a local derby but because Grimsby have been at the top end of the table all season. Saturday's match, and the one at Grimsby next Tuesday, will be very difficult and we're going to have to be on our game in both if we're to get through.
"At the end of the day the League table doesn't lie. Grimsby finished 12 points above us and you've only got to look at the Championship Play-Off match between Watford and Crystal Palace to see that there is a difference between those teams who finish up there and those teams who finish a few places below them.
"Everybody expected Palace to win but Watford were streets ahead of them and that comes through being up there for most of the season. With that in mind, we've got to be on our guard on Saturday."
Grimsby boss Russell Slade talked to The Grimsby Telegraph about the local derby, the one-time Scarborough manager talking about the need to forget about what has gone before over 46 games :
"A positive result is what we want at Lincoln to bring back to Blundell Park. I have tried to remind the players that these two games are a separate issue to how the league season has gone.
"These are cup games now - the league is finished. We may have proved over the season that we are the best out of the four sides in the play-offs by finishing fourth but that counts for nothing now.
"It doesn't always follow that the team that just misses out on automatic promotion goes up through the play-offs. Southend proved it can be achieved last season, but we will have to work hard over two legs against Lincoln to be in with a chance in Cardiff.
"They know what the play-offs are all about and that will be something they can use as experience. But we are determined not to waste this second chance of going up to League One."
Lincoln go into the game with a clean bill of health, boss Alexander having a full squad to choose from, dangerous striker Simon Yeo coming back from a knee injury to claim a probable place on the bench. The Sincil Bank outfit haven't won at home in their last four games, although they will be hoping for a repeat of their last win on their own patch in late March, when they hammered Grimsby 5-0. Only three victories in eleven matches has seen the Red Imps limp into the end-of-season lottery, after a run of six wins and two draws from eight outings had seen them propel themselves into the play-offs from a lowly 16th.
Grimsby could also be back to full strength after a recent injury crisis, although they may be missing giant centre-half Rob Jones whose pregnant wife is due to give birth any day now. Their other number one centre-half John McDermott returned against Northampton Town last weekend, while left-back Tom Newey returned to training on Thursday, Gary Croft and Ciaran Toner also having recovered from recent knocks. Town hitman Michael Reddy is likely to be amongst the substitutes, as the ex-Sunderland striker struggles with an on-going groin strain. One big doubt is Congolese midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala who limped out of training with a slight calf problem this week. The Mariners failed to claim the third automatic promotion spot last Saturday, as Leyton Orient bagged that place with a 3-2 win at Oxford, a victory which also relegated the U's. Town are in poor form as well going into the play-offs, having only won twice in their last nine games, their efforts on the road are particularly poor of late, taking only three points out of their last eighteen away from Blundell Park.
The match is broadcast live on Sky Sports Two, kick-off at 12.05pm. The second-leg will be at Grimsby on Tuesday night, kick-off at 7.45pm.