Paul Hurst and Paul Warne have worked miracles - this will be a fitting play-off final for Shrewsbury and Rotherham

Scott Minto's EFL column: The former Chelsea and Rotherham United defender previews the League One play-off final between his old club and Shrewsbury Town

Just staying in League 1 is a major achievement for Shrewsbury - Paul Hurst deserves high praise (Getty)

Paul Hurst is a Rotherham legend. Nearly 500 games over 15 years, playing a big part in back-to-back promotions certainly qualifies him for that tag. But next Sunday he will be walking out at Wembley as Shrewsbury Town manager trying to break the hearts of every Rotherham fan that cheered him on for all those years.

He will also be walking alongside a former team mate, Paul Warne, the Rotherham manager, one who he forged a great partnership down the left wing for so many years. It will be a surreal moment for both, and I'm sure they'll be having a laugh together as they walk across the Wembley turf. But both will be able to put that to one side in their quest for Championship football.

Like the Championship, this is a final of the third best team in the division, against the fourth. They were also the two best teams in the play-off Semi Finals. Both managers have done incredible jobs to get them there. Warne, the fitness trainer who became the reluctant manager (after Chairman Tony Stewart had to convince him to take the job), was appointed in April of 2017 at a time when even Pep Guardiola would have struggled to keep Rotherham up (it's nice that the fans now call him Warniola!)

'Warney' subsequently got rid of the players who didn't match his own work ethos and brought in young, hungry players with good character. He turned around a losing culture, and the New York Stadium feels different to recent years. Everyone is in it together and pulling in the same direction.

You can argue 'Hursty' has done an even greater job. Just staying in League 1 is a major achievement for Shrewsbury. The aim at the start of this season would have been to do the same. But from the moment of pre-season, where they beat Wolves, Cardiff and Aston Villa, then went on that 15-match unbeaten run (they were the last EFL side to lose a league game), he knew this season could be something special. The fact Shrewsbury were the only side to compete with the might of Wigan and Blackburn says it all.

They were the third best team in the division so in that sense they deserve to go up - but we all know play-off finals don't work like that! What I will say is that, whatever the result, Paul Hurst should be managing in the Championship next season. Look at what he's achieved already and you will see this is a guy on his way up.

The game itself will be tight. Both teams have styles reflecting their managers: hard-working, honest, it's all about the team, so I don't see this game being expansive or one team running away with it.

Paul Warne helped turn around Rotherham's fortunes (Getty)

Rotherham have the height of Michael Smith, the wide play from two of Joe Newell, Ryan Williams and Jon Taylor, plus player of the season Will Vaulks in midfield.

Shrewsbury have Shaun Whalley and Alex Rodman out wide, with Jon Nolan their star player. Two similar teams with a similar work ethic.

My heart says Rotherham but my head says Shrewsbury. The Wembley defeat in the Checkatrade Trophy earlier this season will have been a great prelude to the main event. Things will have been learned both from an individual player point of view and also what their manager will have seen from that day. The occasion at Wembley is everything.

I, obviously, want Rotherham to win but I will be so delighted for Hursty if he does it.

Scott Minto is a former Chelsea, Benfica and West Ham defender and is the lead anchor for EFL coverage on Sky Sports.