Shane Duff is backing City to handle the intense play-off spotlight because of their Capital One Cup heroics.

The Bantams finish their league campaign at Cheltenham on Saturday in a likely dress rehearsal for next week’s two-legged semi-final.

Cheltenham can still snatch the last automatic promotion spot with a win – but only if Rotherham lose at home to bottom club Aldershot.

So as things stand, City will be heading back to Gloucestershire for the right to go to Wembley.

Duff played centre half for both clubs before his career was cruelly cut short by a freak spinal injury. Should they meet again in the semi-final, he is tipping the winner to go up.

He said: “I’ve played in play-offs myself and they are a bit of a lottery. They are great occasions with the big crowds and the TV cameras there.

“Both clubs have got the experience to cope. Cheltenham were at Wembley in the final last year and Bradford have had their unbelievable cup run and been there already.

“They’ve been on telly loads this season and they’ll be used to the big games. They have the big crowds anyway, so I don’t think the pressure will get to them.

“Bradford have got more characters that have played at a higher level than Cheltenham, so that can be an advantage.

“They have had a lot of games but the manager has also got a squad who’ve all played this season.

“Bradford can go down there on Saturday and afford to be a bit more relaxed but Cheltenham have to go for it to get the three points.

“Unfortunately it’s not going to be a fantastic surface to play football on. The pitch at Whaddon Road is the worst I’ve ever seen.

“Three or four years ago it was really good but Gloucester City play there as well now and it’s bare in places.”

Peter Taylor signed Duff in 2010 but he played only 15 games before suffering the injury in training. He was forced to retire in January 2012 aged just 29.

Duff, who spent a decade with Cheltenham before joining City, added: “The injury happened so innocuously when we were having a simple training session on the pitch at Valley Parade.

“I bent down to catch a ball – and have never played since. Two discs in the bottom of my back were just torn to pieces.

“I kept telling myself it would be fine but I went to see yet another specialist a year later and he said that was it. I’d never had a back problem before in my life.

“Because I’d played football for a number of years, some of the fluid had gone out of them and there was not enough protection – one movement had just destroy-ed them.”

Duff is now in his second year of a sports coaching degree at university and he has set up his own business. He has come to terms with the premature end of his playing career.

“I don’t look back with any regrets. If I was bitter about it, I’m the only one who would suffer.

“I know I was a top pro when I played and did all I could. I don’t feel I could have done any more myself.

“Even at Bradford, when I spent all my time injured, I used to set myself little challenges. Before the lads had even started training, I’d have done a gym session and things like that.”

City’s reserves, who lost 2-0 at Hull on Monday, play their penultimate game this afternoon at home to Grimsby.