The prize is a Wembley final, writes Phil Ravitz
That's some incentive for Sunday's combatants in the second of the League 2 Promotion play-offs at London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Stadium.
It will be second time inside a month that Daggers and their old adversaries Morecambe have met, John Still's side having travelled to the Lancashire club's Christie Park home just three weeks ago, in the penultimate away game of the regular season.
That day an 86th minute strike from home full-back Darren Moss won the Shrimps a vital three points and sent Daggers tumbling down to 10th place. But two victories in the final two games of the campaign - a 2-1 home victory courtesy of Graeme Montgomery's injury-time winner and the last day 2-0 success at Darlington, saw Daggers safely take seventh and final play-off spot, finishing on the same 72 point total as Aldershot, who headed them on goal difference.
A point ahead were Rotherham and Morecambe, the Lancashire side surprising most people by finishing seventh and top of the four play-off qualifiers by winning their six pointer of a final game against Aldershot, thanks to a 72nd minute winner from Gary Hunter - the only locally born player in their squad.
That win, coupled with Rotherham fielding a supposedly weakened side at Hereford, having secured a play-off place the previous week, saw Morecambe edge 'top play-off' spot, also on goal difference, both finishing on 73 points.
That win over Aldershot was supposed to be the final game at Christie Park, but now next Thursday's second leg play-off game against Daggers will be the last time the Shrimps run out there before their move to the newly-named, £12 million Globe Arena for next season. It's a move that they obviously hope to crown with promotion to League 1.
Although Morecambe hold bragging rights so far this season, having taken four of the six points on offer, having drawn 1-1 at Victoria Road in September and secured that 1-0 victory three weeks ago, clashes with the Lancashire side hold fond memories for Daggers fans.
It was against Morecambe that Daggers clinched their place in the Conference Play-off final seven seasons ago, Garry Hill's side going through on penalties, at Christie Park, to meet Doncaster Rovers, to whom they lost 3-2, on a 'silver' goal at Stoke's Britannia Stadium.
The two clubs have been inextricably linked for a number of seasons and in addition to that Conference play-off semi, entered the Football League together three seasons, Daggers as champions, Morecambe as play-off winners.
Respective managers - John Still and Sammy McIlroy - the former Manchester United, Manchester City, Stoke and Bury, Northern Irish legend, have crossed swords many times in both League and non-league football, when McIlroy was in charge at former clubs Northwich and Macclesfield, in addition to Daggers-Morecambe clashes.
Both men have an unstinting respect for every other and take massive credit for piloting their respective teams in the play-offs, leaving much bigger clubs such as Bradford City, Port Vale and Northampton Town and clubs with obvious money, such as Shrewsbury and Chesterfield, in their wake and looking on at them with envy.
Thursday's second leg at Christie Park kicks-off at 7-45pm.
Tyne & Wear refereeing duo Colin Webster and Eddie Ilderton will take charge of the ties. Colin Webster makes the mammoth journey down to Victoria Road to officiate in the first leg. It will be the first time he has handled a match involving Daggers this season. He has refereed one Morecambe home game this campaign.
His colleague Eddie Ilderton has the shorter, cross-country journey for Thursday's second leg. He has officiated at Christie Park twice before this season, but, understandably, it will be the first time he has handled a game involving Daggers.
Likely teams:
Dagenham & R: Roberts, Ogogo, Doe, Arber, McCrory; Green, Vincelot, Gain, Nurse, Benson, Scott.
Morecambe: Roche; Moss, Bentley, Artell, Parrish; Hunter, Stanley, Drummond, Duffy, Curtis, Mullin.
Travel:
There are no planned engineering works between Barking and Upminster on the District line.
