Chris Nicholl delivers words of wisdom to Dean Smith

His message to the Walsall boss ahead of next Sunday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final is simple – don't change too much.

Nicholl made numerous appearances at the famous old stadium during his playing career and believes the key to success is keeping preparations as similar as possible to those for a normal game.

"As a manager or coach you want a build-up the same style you have always had," he says. "You don't want to make it too different - apart from the travelling - you don't want to change too much.

"Players and athletes want a regular routine, where they know when they are going to eat and when they are going to sleep.

"It all adds up to getting the best from them, they want to stick with the routine and that is important."

Nicholl believes the biggest problem can be dealing with the games prior to the big day.

Heading into today's home game with MK Dons, the Saddlers have won just one of the last six and Nicholl admits it is only natural for players to have one eye on the big occasion.

"It is not easy," he admits. "You are focused so much on Wembley it can make the next couple of league games difficult.

"You start jumping over tackles which you might have otherwise have not.

"So long as they stay fit and are ready when they get there, that is the main thing."

Nicholl was part of the Aston Villa team which drew 0-0 with Everton at Wembley in the 1976 League Cup Final and perhaps the most iconic moment of his career would arrive in the second replay, at Old Trafford, when he scored from nearly 40 yards out.

He also tasted the pain of defeat beneath the old twin towers with Southampton against Nottingham Forest three years later, while he also made several appearances for Northern Ireland at the famous venue during a near 20 year playing career.

"Any place is tough to lose," he says. "The key thing for Walsall is going to be having everyone fit because they will need to be."

Nicholl's managerial career would bring him to the Saddlers in 1994, shortly after Smith had departed for Hereford United.

But when the latter took the reins at the Banks's in 2011, he brought Nicholl onto his coaching team for a short while in an advisory role and the two men remain close.

"I know Dean pretty well," said Nicholl. "I joined him for a year when he first started and I know what his staff are about.

"They are good, honest people and they suit the club and the locality as well.

"I live in Walsall know and I find the whole surroundings and the people are the same way.

"They are good, honest people with values and that is what Dean has from the players.

"He is down to earth, he knows his stuff and his staff are rock solid as well. Most of them have been around for a while, it is the players who come and go.

"That is one of his difficulties, in that he gets a player who will sign for a year and move on but he has shown he can handle that.

"I think playing Bristol City will suit us. He will need the players to be fit, willing and able. But I can see them doing justice to the hype."

Like numerous former managers, Nicholl has retained close ties with the club and is a familiar face on matchdays. Now he can't wait for the club's moment on the big stage.

"It's fantastic," he added. "I know people who have been trying to get tickets, who are coming, who haven't been here to watch for a long time.

"Hopefully we can get them here to fill the stadium, that would be brilliant.

"We have an excellent chance, it is a one-off game. Our lads will be up for it."