NATHAN Clarke is determined City avoid the same pitfalls he suffered on a previous play-off trip to the Den.

Clarke might be reduced to a watching role tonight if Reece Burke is declared fit enough to return.

But the veteran centre half can pass on his considerable play-off experience in the dressing room.

That includes a previous semi-final second leg at Millwall with Huddersfield in 2010. The Lions won 2-0 – present targetman Steve Morison scoring the first – and went on to Wembley.

The visitors were caught in the headlights that night but that’s something Clarke does not expect from City.

He said: “We were a young group at Huddersfield and that proved you have to be spot on in both games.

“If you go down there and take it lightly, not quite being up for the game and not doing everything right you’ll come unstuck.

“We have a mixed group here. We have to take the excitement of the young lads and (combine it with) the experience of lads like myself, Rozza (Rory McArdle) and Macca (Tony McMahon).

“There are players with a lot of games and hopefully they can help settle a few nerves.

“You have to have people who are ready for the fight with you, behind you, backing you. That is something that has happened all season long.

“We have some players here who are not just tough but also fantastic on the ball and work really hard for the team.”

Millwall sold out their ticket allocation by Tuesday as they close in on the prospect of another Wembley trip and instant promotion back to the Championship.

But Clarke feels the Bantams can block out the frenzy around them as they look for a way back from the 3-1 Valley Parade defeat.

“The fans create a big atmosphere at Millwall and Bradford. But honestly, out on the pitch you don’t really feel it.

“It is difficult to describe to people who haven’t been out there.

“You see it and feel it initially coming out of the tunnel. But once the game starts, you are so focused that it is almost shut out.

“It is a strange place we put ourselves in.”

City put themselves in a hole with Sunday’s setback but Phil Parkinson has promised they will throw “absolutely everything” at their hosts. His team battled to a goalless draw at the Den in October.

Clarke added: “We have done brilliantly this season and no-one is going to slacken off now.

“Millwall are a good side and there was hardly anything between us in the league. They play a similar style to us but we did our homework.

“The two teams have been close in the table all season and now it is down to the little things in games that can decide it.”

Two years ago, Clarke skippered Leyton Orient to the League One final where they lost on penalties to Rotherham having led 2-0 at half-time. It is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can be transformed in the play-offs.

Clarke said: “I still couldn’t tell you what happened in 2014. But you have to take that experience and knowledge of how you felt at the time and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

"I have had both ends in the play-offs, disappointments but also the joy of going up.

“The play-offs are win at all costs. People say it is the best way to go up but it is tough if you are on the receiving end.”