GREG Halford admits the nerves are building ahead of the do-or-die clash with Leicester City on Saturday.
But the defender insists Nottingham Forest's players will have their emotions under control by the time the big kick-off arrives at the City Ground.
Billy Davies' side need to beat their local rivals to have a chance of forcing their way into the play-off places.
And Halford says they will find their focus at the vital time.
"In the build-up you don't have to control nerves and excitement," he said. "But definitely going into the game you have to control it.
"You don't want to have your emotions take control of your body on the pitch – it's the last thing you want. You need to be in control at all times.
"There's no need to tell the players that – everyone knows what it takes to win a game.
"It's the biggest game of the season. There's no way of getting around it, it's going to be the biggest game of the season. A packed house, at home, and these are the type of games you want to be playing in every week."
Halford has a better sense of perspective than most, having had to sit in the stands for the final game of last season at the City Ground, when he was still a Portsmouth player.
Halford was not allowed to play because it would have meant Wolves were owed another payment as part of the deal that took him to Fratton Park.
And he instead had to look on as relegated Portsmouth bowed out of the Championship.
Now he hopes to play a part in a more positive finale to the campaign with the Reds.
"I'm really looking forward to it. It's such a contrast to last season. I came to the City Ground with Portsmouth last season and the mood is the complete opposite to what it was then. It's going to be magical," he said.
"I can't really put it into one single emotion. I came to Forest with Portsmouth in the last game of the season and wasn't even allowed to play because it meant Portsmouth giving Wolves more money. That was disappointing.
"But now it feels like the complete opposite. These are the type of games you want to be playing in every week.
"I've been through it with Sheffield United, getting to Wembley a few years ago and losing in the final. Hopefully we'll go that one step further."
Halford is taking nothing for granted, however.
"Obviously it's a bit of luck we need," he said. "We need a result to go our way – it's not all in our hands.
"But we can only do what we can do on the pitch and that's get three points. When you're in the play-offs it's more about prepping than anything else.
"You have to be ready. There's a long build-up if you get through the semi-final and into the final.
"There are two weeks when you're waiting. It does make you nervous.
"We've got a few people on the team who've been through that already. But first of all we have to win on Saturday."
