Gareth Ainsworth says it will be “fantastic” to lead Wycombe Wanderers out at Wembley in the League Two play-off final on Saturday – a game he says they were never meant to be in.

The 42-year-old will step out of the tunnel alongside Southend United manager Phil Brown before Blues battle the Shrimpers for the last remaining place in League One next season.

Having been written off before a ball was kicked back in August, Ainsworth guided one of the smallest squads in the division to a club record points haul before they triumphed against Plymouth over two legs in the play-off semi-final to set-up their debut at the new Wembley and first appearance at the national stadium since 1994.

“It’s going to an amazing experience for a club the size of Wycombe,” said Ainsworth.

“The last time they went to Wembley they were really in the ascendency when the money in football wasn’t as huge as it is now, the gulf wasn’t so big and the money didn’t mean as much back in 1994.

“Money plays a big part in budgets and dictates who the big boys are and we’re definitely not. To be able to get to Wembley against one of the promotion favourites and a top manager in Phil Brown, is just fantastic for us. We were never meant to be there and it’s brilliant.”

Saturday’s match will be an unquestionable high for Ainsworth, who in two-and-a-half years as manager of Wycombe – his first managerial job – has battled against financial restraints.

The club’s plight culminated in Blues coming tantalisingly close to dropping out of the Football League last season, and the final day victory against Torquay has served as the catalyst for Ainsworth’s and Wanderers’ renaissance.

He said: “In your management career it’s definitely the highest I’ve ever finished and the best I’ve achieved because I’ve only been here for two-and-a-half years.

“I still maintain that the day at Torquay was special for me because it’s had an effect on my life and my career as a manager and who I am as a person.

“I’m sure Wembley is going to do the same thing; it’s just fantastic. Two-and-a-half years in the job and talking about great achievements seems a bit ridiculous, so I’ll just enjoy the day.”

The Wycombe manager feels his players will not be overawed by the magnitude of the occasion, despite this being a first trip to Wembley the majority of the squad.

Captain Paul Hayes and Sam Saunders have both appeared under the arch for Brentford but those are the only two in Wanderers’ squad who have.

The culture that has been created among the team means that Ainsworth has no worries about any of his players freezing when they take to the pitch shortly before 5:30pm on Saturday evening.

“It’s important to have a couple of people that have played at Wembley and we have,” he said.

“Stevey Craig has played in some big games at Hampden Park in Scotland, so those players will come to the front. I’m sure they’ll be looking out for signs that anyone’s a bit nervous or apprehensive about it.

“I think we’ve got a good sprit here, a good togetherness and you’re never going to be on your own at Wycombe Wanderers. You’re never going to feel isolated or worry about anything, you’ve always got a mate to lean on who’s going to be there to support you.

“That’s on and off the pitch, and you’ve got a manager that’s looking after you as well. We’ll be ok. There won’t be any choking, and we’ll give it our best shot. I know that if we give our best shot we can beat anyone in this league and we’ve proved that.”