EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry has urged his players to play the game and not the occasion when they play Dulwich Hamlet in this afternoon’s Ryman Premier League play-off final.

Rocks beat Tonbridge Angels to book their final place, while Dulwich got the better of Bognor Regis Town to book a final date at Rookery Hill.

Dulwich scored two injury time goals to secure a 2-2 draw against Rocks two months ago, and Coventry has called upon his players to keep their focus and give it their all when the match kicks-off.

“We are really looking forward to it,” he said. “It is a big game but we need to just focus on the opponent and our game plan. We have players that have played in play-off finals before and some who haven’t but all are hungry to win.

“The league game at their place was mad. We had it won and they got a couple of late goals to take a point. The league may have taken a different turn if we had won that game but we will never know.

“It will be a big crowd today but we have dealt with that before so we just need to give it our best and work hard.”

Rocks will be eager to win for stricken attacker Kye Ruel, who broke the fibula in his leg during the victory over Tonbridge.

Coventry said the mood after Thursday’s semi-final win was dampened after the news of the injury reached the squad but said the team was determined to succeed despite injury troubles.

“That killed us,” said Coventry. “We were all buzzing after the game and to hear that Kye had broken his leg was a massive blow. He will be at the game today and we want to win it for him.

“Selection is being made easier by the injury situation. We have Kye out, Kris Newby out with a muscle injury and James Walker will have a late fitness test.

“But that won’t affect us. We would be confident even with nine fit men and you need to be heading into these games otherwise you don’t stand a chance."