A mention of the play-offs used to be enough to bring a smile to the faces of Albion fans.

For almost a decade, talk of the promotion knockout would coax back fond memories.

It was mainly about the successful campaign of 2004.

Leon Knight "fires the dream", the packed Millennium Stadium. Reminders to John Prescott.

The drama against Swindon. Sam Parkin’s promise of a text message. Adam Virgo’s header. Early-leaving fans rushing back into Withdean to see what they missed. The penalty shoot-out. “Hit the bar, hit the bar.”

Promotion for “mid-table McGhee” and his fixed grin. The wonky trophy.

Those who were there will know what all that is about. But a few of the new breed of regulars at the Amex might have to ask a grown-up.

It was that long ago now.

Even parts of the ultimately unsuccessful promotion bid of 1991 developed a golden glow as years went by.

The second half of the home leg against Millwall was the best bit. The final was the nadir. And the game in between, at the fearsome Den, was a bit of both. One of the most frightening matches some Seagulls fans have ever attended. But a great result and a tale to tell.

Then, from 2004, Albion left the play-offs well alone. There was just a flicker of hope they might get involved under Dean Wilkins in 2007 and they were comfortably avoided in 2011.

But for nine years, the play-offs were spoken about with relish by Seagulls fans.

Then something changed. On a mild May Monday night, Crystal Palace spoiled what was expected to be a step towards Wembley.

Contrary to what some people sometimes try to intimate, that 2-0 defeat to the old foe did not necessarily cost Albion a nailed-on promotion.

It cost them a final against a very good Watford side who had outplayed them twice during the league season.

But the “losing to Palace” bit was what hurt the confident, clacker-wielding Seagulls faithful most in terms of the actual football match that night.

They were back a year later but had spent all their force by reaching the top six and then making a bright start to the home leg.

Now they return again. When they didn’t really want to. So what can we expect?

The right things were said straight after the defeat – sorry, the draw – at Middlesbrough.

It was all: “Heads up, go again.” But can they?

If Albion’s reaction to missing out on promotion is as positive as their response was in the second half at the Riverside to a poor opening 45 minutes, they should be fine.

Sheffield Wednesday are promising a cauldron at Hillsborough, not unlike the Riverside I suppose.

That will be an experience. Personally I have always found it a rather sad, melancholy ground.

From where we sit in the top tier of the main stand, the songs and chants seem to echo eerily around the vast arena.

It has always felt like you would need in excess of 30,000 there to make a real buzz. That is what is expected tonight.

As Guy Butters says in these pages, Albion need to stay in the tie. Actually, both teams do.

It’s not like the old days of European competition when an away tie was a trek into the unknown.

So don’t read too much into home leg and away leg as one young reporter did when Albion drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park back in 2013.

“Who do you think is ahead in the tie?” he asked Ian Holloway, perhaps trying to be a bit too clever and hinting that the Seagulls had the advantage.

The Palace boss flashed him a withering look and said dismissively: “It’s 0-0 mate!”

There would be real pleasure in seeing the fans and players who suffered such disappointment at the Riverside have the time of their lives at Wembley.

Imagine hearing a promotion roar and maybe a chorus for Dale Stephens, the outstanding midfielder who did so much to leave the Seagulls poised for that one giant step in the final half-hour of the regular season.

The hugely unfortunate Stephens will be missed.

But, whatever happens, I would like to see Albion emerge from these two or three games stronger with a foundation for 2016-17.

It sounds obvious but it has not happened after previous play-off appearances.

Bruno has spoken about the energy around the city which has accompanied the recent promotion push.

Having lived in Barcelona and Valencia, he knows a bit about energy.

As a Brighton resident with a school-age son, I’ve seen that energy from people who I thought had precious little interest in the club.

But that surge of interest has only happened very recently.

If that can be sustained, be it in the Premier or the Championship, fantastic.

What is absolutely key is stability – whatever happens.

It is not just the semi-final results which left a bitter taste in 2013 and 2014.

It was what happened afterwards, with the acrimonious, drawn out departure of Gus Poyet and the more dignified, much quicker but equally unsettling exit of Oscar Garcia.

With a cool head in charge and a squad being carefully constructed, Albion should be better placed on May 29 than they were last summer.

How much better remains to be seen.