EAGLES columnist SAM ROSS is in cautious mood as he looks ahead to Monday’s play-off final clash with Watford.

THIS time next week all the excitement currently surrounding the play-off final could be completely deflated or, on the flip side, sent into mass override with the thought of the Eagles back in the top flight of English football.

Watford are the clear favourites and in all honesty deserve their shot in the Premier League more than Palace do after this season.

But as everyone knows all too well, especially West Ham back in 2004, the play-offs don't work that way.

The biggest surprise for me has been us keeping two back-to-back clean sheets, while Watford conceded in both of their play-off legs against Leicester.

Watford pose a greater goal-scoring threat than Brighton, but I believe the Eagles have a better chance of beating Gianfranco Zola’s side than they did Brighton.

Zola clearly looked worried at the end of the play-off semi-final at the Amex and so he should be.

What is Palace’s vulnerability also plays to their advantage - their unpredictability.

Other than Wilfried Zaha, and the formidable Mile Jedinak, it is hard to really know what to expect from Ian Holloway’s side.

Eagles fans are hoping the Manchester United-bound winger has one big performance left in him for us, while Watford will be planning on how to frustrate and upset the 20-year-old.

There is no doubt Watford have players who can score goals with Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra leading the attack, as well as a quality midfield, but they do look suspect at the back. The absence of Glenn Murray for us is huge because there is no real replacement.

Fans were surprised Aaron Wilbraham was chosen ahead of Kevin Phillips, but Phillips is no lone striker.

He never has been and to play him would mean losing a midfielder.

For me that would be Kagisho Dikgacoi, who hasn’t been at his best in the last few months and is clearly tiring after what has been a busy season.

Yannick Bolasie has to start and for me would be ahead of Zaha and Jonny Williams on the team sheet.

Losing a midfielder is perhaps too big a risk to take in such an important game but the Eagles can’t sit back and let Watford attack them, they wouldn’t be able to contain them for 90 minutes.

Sticking with Wilbraham seems the safer option with Williams, Zaha and Bolasie playing off the front man, allowing Phillips to come on as a substitute and grab a late winner.

It all depends if Holloway is planning on going for the safer option, which he has done in recent weeks, or resorting back to his all out attack approach.

Holloway is as tricky to predict at the minute as Palace are, so who knows who he will select next week?

Either way I will be heading to Wembley with no expectations and whatever the result, it will pose more questions ahead of next season.

If the Eagles remain in the Championship can they hold on to the likes of Bolasie, Jedinak and Murray?

Or if they clinch promotion, how much will they need to add to the squad for the Premier League?

See you at Wembley!

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