After the end of a gruelling Serie B campaign, now comes the part neutrals look forward to more than most – the play-offs.

Six teams are vying for the final promotion spot and the chance to join Pisa and Sassuolo under the bright lights of Serie A.

Catanzaro and Cesena get the post-season action under way in Calabria on Saturday evening and this 90-minute shootout pits two teams in contrasting form up against each other.

Fabio Caserta’s Catanzaro crawled over the finish line in the 38-game campaign, winning just twice in their final nine outings, their form in the first half of the year carrying them through.

Yet despite their struggles in the final weeks, they managed to beat Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium (even if the Neroverdi were already promoted), sending out a message that on their day they can inflict damage on anyone.

Yet Caserta needs to rally the troops ahead of the game with Cesena, especially talisman and top scorer Pietro Iemmello.

The goals dried up for the striker in the remaining few months of the season – only three in the final 11 games and none in the last six – which no doubt played a part in Catanzaro’s struggles post-March.

Yet qualifying for the promotion play-offs two seasons running was not lost on Caserta.

“Playing in the play-offs for two consecutive years is a source of pride for the city, repeating that is always difficult,” he said following Tuesday’s draw against Mantova.

“I have to thank the management and the club, which lets us work with great peace of mind.”

Cesena, on the other hand, have been in sparkling form going into the final rounds of the campaign.

Such was their momentum off the back of three straight wins, they leapfrogged Bari and Palermo to steal a play-off spot, forcing out the Puglian side who had been there for most of the campaign.

Considering a year ago they were playing in Serie C, what Michele Mignani has achieved this season is nothing short of remarkable.

Mirko Antonucci’s late winner in Modena on the final day of the season meant Cesena avoided meeting Juve Stabia, who took six points from them in the regular campaign.

In the two games between Cesena and Catanzaro, there has been one victory apiece. Cesena won the first game 2-0 at home before Catanzaro earned a 4-2 victory in Calabria in February.

The match is due to take place at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo, giving Catanzaro home advantage.

During the regular season, Caserta’s side lost seven times, and only three of them were at home, making the Ceravolo something of a fortress.

Statistically speaking, the odds are stacked against Cesena. However, after that 4-2 defeat by Catanzaro, their record on the road improved, taking 14 points from 21.

Caserta, incidentally, played for Cesena as a player. He made 21 appearances in Serie A for the club during 2010-11. Fast forward 14 years and the 46-year-old would no doubt love to return there as coach with the Giallorossi.

Spezia await the winner of Saturday’s game in the two-legged semi-final.

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