The Mariners are riding a wave of momentum as they prepare for Saturday's National League North play-off final against Kidderminster Harriers, and manager Ian Watson is quick to credit the fans for their "really special" support. After a hard-fought 1-0 semi-final victory over Buxton, South Shields now have the chance to secure promotion to the National League—just one step below the English Football League. With an expected crowd of 4,000, including 1,200 traveling from Kidderminster, the atmosphere at the 1st Cloud Arena promises to be electric.

The stakes couldn't be higher. South Shields finished second in the league, five points behind champions Fylde and eight ahead of Kidderminster, who placed third. But the Harriers have had the upper hand in head-to-head meetings, winning both fixtures this season—including a recent clash at Kidderminster just over a week ago. That loss has left a fire burning in Watson's belly. "We're going into the game as underdogs, strangely enough, because we finished higher in the league," he told BBC Radio Newcastle. "But they've beaten us twice, and I think they've won their last six or seven games in a row."

Watson is focused on managing his squad's emotions after a tense semi-final performance. "We definitely got a bit too intense and anxious at times against Buxton, and it led to the game going away from us," he admitted. "Going into Saturday, their batteries will be totally recharged. We'll help them this week as much as we can, hoping they can remain calm at the right moments and are prepared and ready to go."

The community has rallied behind the Mariners, with ticket demand soaring. "I've had a few requests for tickets, but we only get allocated so many," Watson said. "The community has really jumped on how well the club's done this year. It's felt like it's built up since we played Shrewsbury in the FA Cup." Kick-off is set for 12:30 BST, and with promotion on the line, this is a moment the club and its supporters won't want to miss.