Brabin is focused solely on Football League return

Victory over AFC Wimbledon at Eastlands would propel the Hatters back into the Football League, with Brabin saying: “It would be fantastic.

“I don’t think any words can describe how important it is for the club. It’s a really big game.”

But he is unconcerned by what victory would mean for his own long-term job prospects at the club.

Brabin said: “I’m genuinely, 100 per cent, not concerned about that.

“All my energies and thoughts are on winning this game on Saturday and what will be will be.

“We are definitely competing at the right end of the table.

“The experiences we’ve had the last couple of years is by no means easy.

“This league doesn’t get enough respect.

“It is a tough league and every year that goes by it is getting more respect.

“I probably support the argument that the top two and play-offs would be better (to go up).

“This league is getting stronger and stronger each year.

“People coming into it, there’s a desperation to get out of it because it is the hardest league to get out of, but it is what it is.

“From top spot to bottom spot, everybody is fighting for something.”

And he believes that by increasing the number of promotion spots, the standards in the league above would also be raised as there are so many teams happy with mid-table obscurity.

Brabin continued: “I think if you did that, straight away it would improve the Second Division.”

He also feels that Town are massively unfortunate to be in the Conference, largely because of their 30-point deduction for financial irregularities, and feels that a return to the Football League by claiming victory on Saturday would be the best way to get back at the authorities.

He said: “You can’t help but feel that Luton have had everything thrown at them and other clubs gotten less.

“I don’t think there would be a better time to turn the tables and win on Saturday.”

But Brabin knows it will not be an easy task, having suffered the misery of play-off final defeat when in charge of Cambridge United in 2009 as they lost 2-0 to Torquay at Wembley.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it affected me in terms of moving on.

“It was the biggest disappointment in terms of my professional career I’ve ever had.

“It’s the loneliest job in the world when you have been beaten.

“But whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

“We are lucky enough to have players that have played in finals before.

“Some have been on winning teams and some have been on losing.”

And he believes that mixture of experience will stand his side in good stead.

Sadly the City of Manchester Stadium, which holds almost 48,000 people, looks likely to be less than half full.

The Hatters have sold around 11,000 tickets with AFC having around 6,000 takers.

Brabin has great sympathy for the fans that are unable to afford it or make the seven-hour round trip, but believes that those who will be there will make for quite an atmosphere.

He added: “There’s a lot of issues at the moment in terms of travelling and prices and I can fully 100 per cent agree with that and understand it.

“But it will be worthwhile if we can get the right result on Saturday and get back into the League.

“First and foremost we’ve got to concentrate on ourselves and that’s what we are doing.

“That’s (a half empty stadium) out of our control. The players are focused at the moment fully on getting over this final hurdle and the fans have been fantastic over the last few weeks.

“We are used to 8-9,000 watching us every week so I’m sure we will have more than that at the City of Manchester and hopefully they can recreate that atmosphere.”