NIGEL CLIBBENS has no doubt Huddersfield Town would grace the Championship but stressed today: “We’ve got to earn the right to be there.”

The club’s highly-respected chief executive is at the forefront of preparations for Wembley on Saturday week, and keeping fingers crossed all the hard work both on and off the field comes to fruition with a win against Sheffield United.

The League I play-off final is sure to attract a 70,000-plus crowd to the national stadium (3.00) and Clibbens is praying League officials will be attaching blue an white ribbons to the npower Trophy at teatime on May 26.

“We need to make the most of this opportunity and, having come so close before, we need to see it through this time,” he said.

“No-one is under any illusions it will be anything but an exceptionally tough game against Sheffield United, with both teams wanting to win every bit as much as each other, but we are going in as under dogs and we can play with no pressure.

“We need to up our game, but we have definitely got the ability and there is no doubt in my mind we would grace the Championship – but we have to earn the right to be there. It’s no use just thinking you deserve to be there, you’ve got to prove yourselves and win the right to go up.”

Appointed in December 2008, Clibbens has been at the heart of the Dean Hoyle era and hopes the chairman – as a lifelong fan – enjoys reward for his backing of Town.

“Our fans as a whole will be a credit to Wembley Stadium,” said Clibbens.

“They created a fantastic atmosphere at the semi-final second leg on Tuesday night and you could see and hear how much the club means to the supporters and the community.

“It’s great for the town to be looking forward to a big occasion at Wembley like a play-off final and we want more big occasions in future.

“Our 15,000 fans sounded like 35,000 against MK Dons and we know (with twice as many likely to make the trip to London) they will give us wonderful backing in the final.

“For everyone in the club, to go up would be a fantastic reward as well. Lots of hard work goes on both on and off the field to make the club what it is, we have come a hell of a long way in the last three years and now we need to go up – although we know it won’t be easy.”

So will there be more ups and downs on the big stage?

“We never do anything easily, do we?” was his instantly knowing answer.