JASON Koumas is relishing the chance to finally run out at Wembley next Monday (ko 3pm) after having his dream cruelly dashed seven years ago.
The Welsh wizard helped guide Tranmere to the last League Cup final at the Twin Towers against Leicester.
But he suffered injury heartbreak in the week running up to the big day when he tore his thigh muscle in training, scuppering his chances of playing.
Koumas was 20 at the time and admits it took him a long time to get over it.
But he is now determined to make the most of what he considers to be a second chance in the Championship play-off final against Derby.
"I tore my thigh in training the week before and missed the game at Wembley," said Koumas.
"I was devastated.
"I was only a young lad and it took me a long time to recover.
"I can't wait for this one to come along.
"You don't get many chances to play at Wembley and this year it's fallen into place."
But Koumas insists he would happily have given up a trip to Wembley for automatic promotion.
He is now hoping Tony Mowbray's men can complete the job against the Rams, who finished eight points ahead of fourth-placed Albion.
"Of course, our aim was to finish in the top two," Koumas added.
"If you win them, the play-offs are the best way to go up - but it's a risky way of doing it.
"This week we'll be training hard and building up to it to make sure we're ready.
"Derby have done very well this season but, after the run we've been on, we're confident.
"Wembley's a big pitch which I think will suit us."
