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Mile Jedinak: The Championship play-off final could be a life-changing moment for everyone at Aston Villa

Midfield hero Mile Jedinak has launched a passionate call to arms ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off final, branding it as potentially ‘life-changing’ for everyone at Villa.

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Mile Jedinak (right) in action during Villa's semi-final win over Middlesbrough

Jedinak has compared the clash with Fulham at Wembley to a ‘sliding doors moment’ and urged team-mates give ‘every drop of sweat’ in the club’s bid to reach the Premier League.

Villa, who will be roared on by more than 38,000 fans, are set to profit to the tune of £132million should they win promotion. Yet defeat and a longer stay in the Championship would see the club’s finances further restricted, with Steve Bruce admitting next season’s team would likely look “totally different”.

Jedinak, who captained Crystal Palace to promotion at Wembley five years ago, will also skipper Australia at the World Cup this summer. But he said: “Taking everyone to the World Cup was an unbelievable experience.

“But this is life-changing. You all know what Premier League football comes with and the reward of that.

“It is every aspect. It is a crossroads moment. A sliding doors moment. It is like that. It can go one of two ways. That’s what you’re dealing with.

“Some don’t take the time to think about it and that’s up to them. I can’t speak for everybody but it motivates me. I use that on the field to make sure I’m doing everything I possibly can.”

The future of a number of players could be determined by the outcome, with Villa’s hopes of signing Sam Johnstone and winger Robert Snodgrass on permanent deals dependent on them regaining top flight status.

Jedinak, who scored the only goal in Villa's semi-final win over Middlesbrough, added: “We haven’t spoken about it but everybody knows it. Nobody is kidding themselves, people are aware of it, they know the situation.

“We are doing the right thing and making sure that doesn’t happen.

“On Saturday you are going to have to see everybody’s last drop of sweat. Everyone is going to have to leave everything on that field for us to get the desired outcome.

“I am aware of it, I’m sure everyone else is aware of it. That goes for everyone else watching as well, because we are going to need them just as much as at Villa Park. It is going to be one big push from everybody to see us through.”

Villa’s team is packed with experience, while boss Steve Bruce is chasing a fifth promotion from the Championship.

Jedinak continued: “A lot of the squad have been through that path before and understand what playing at Wembley brings in itself.

“There will be 40,000 screaming Villa fans, maybe a few more, and that in itself gets you excited. It’s almost like you’ve got to try and contain it.

“You want it to be a great day for everybody, so you don’t go there just representing me as a player, me as an individual, my teammates and the staff.

“You go there representing 40,000 of them that are in that stadium. But you also go there representing millions of Villa fans around the world.

“You go there representing them. OK, the Champions League final is the same day. But at that time [we kick-off] it’s the biggest game in the world.”