The Bucks ensured their place in the final of the Unibond Premier Division Play-offs on Tuesday night with a dramtic 6-5 semi-final win on penalties over Witton Albion.

Now they must make a trip to The International Stadium on Saturday to face a Gateshead side who look virtually unbeatable, following their comprehensive 4-0 win over Derbyshire side Eastwood Town in Tuesday night's other semi-final.

Gateshead have already beaten Buxton twice this season: 4-0 at the Silverlands and then 5-0 on their home turf, in the last game of the regular season.

And speaking on the eve of the play-off final, Buxton manager John Reed admitted: "We will need to be at our absolute best.

"I thought we were at our best against Witton and it's just a shame we didn't kill the game off when it was 1-0 and we had one or two chances.

"I've studied videos of Gateshead, know what the key areas are, and know what my shape has to be. We know who their key players are and have thought about it all.

"We've got a full strength squad, Tony Lennon is completely back now. Everything is 100 per cent.

"Two weeks ago we weren't even involved in the play-offs. Then we won the semi-final at Witton, it was just a fantastic achievement.

"Nobody expected us to win at Witton and now we're 90 minutes away from putting the club in the Conference North. I just don't know what to say, it's unbelievable."

He added: "I feel so relaxed, just as I did at Witton. My lads are going in as relaxed as anything as well.

"I keep telling the lads that I've had seven years in that league (Blue Square North) and it's a fantastic league. It's an absolutely great league to be involved in."

Led by former Newcastle United midfielder Ian Bogie, Gateshead are currently on a fantastic run which sees them unbeaten in 11 games.

They have won their last five matches, scoring a remarkable 17 goals without conceeding, and including the nine put past Buxton in their two league encounters in April.

* A large crowd is expected at The International Stadium for Saturday's final, and Gateshead officials are warning fans to turn up early.