AS Hartlepool United's ticket sales for Sunday's Millennium Stadium showdown edge towards the 16,000 mark, Antony Sweeney and his team-mates are helping boost them even further.

The League One play-off game with Sheffield Wednesday will see Pool supported by around three times their normal home gate as the biggest exodus the town has ever seen takes place.

And Sweeney, who scored the goal on the final day of the season that secured a play-off berth for Pool, admits the players are doing their bit.

"It's not just the players but the fans, the town and the whole club are looking forward to the chance to go to the Millennium Stadium,'' said the Stockton-born midfielder.

"I've got a fair few family going; there's about 18 of my family from Liverpool going as well as those from the North-East, my mum and dad and sisters.

"I watched the FA Cup final last week and it was nice to see the Millennium Stadium and think that we will be there soon.

"A few of the lads have said the same and it's weird that we will be.

"I think Chris Westwood is top when it comes to ordering tickets for family - he's got about 48 of them! A few of the lads in the 20s as well.

"But it's a family occasion, so it's no surprise there is plenty of interest.

"The town has done the club proud this week. It's not the biggest of towns but to get over 15,000 fans there is a tremendous achievement.

"Of course, not everyone is from the town, a lot of people from across the area are supporting us. You can see the excitement building for everyone now.''

Sweeney, with 13 goals to his credit this season, insists there is no danger of Pool going to the Millennium Stadium just for a day out. Sweeney and his team-mates will be at the Stadium for Saturday's League Two final to see what the arena is all about and he admitted: "Now we are there we have to go all out and try to win the game.

"Of course we want to win and both teams will feel that way but I don't think there is any added pressure on them because of who they are. The pressure is there on us both to win the game.

"Both teams want to be playing in the Championship next season.

"We know it's going to be a really tough game, they are a good side and have spent a lot of time at the highest level, but this is a one-off game.

"It's a day we have to relish and everyone is looking forward to it.''

Sunday will be Pool's ninth play-off game but their first final.

And despite such a massive prize at stake - Pool could have Leeds, Leicester, Ipswich and Norwich on their fixture list next season - Sweeney is sure Pool's experience of high-pressure games will stand them in good stead.

He said: "The last three games have all been high pressure for us. We had to go to Bournemouth and avoid defeat, then face two tough games with Tranmere in the semi-final. So we know what playing under those circumstances is all about. I think we just have to go out and enjoy it.

"Credit to Tranmere, they put us under pressure from the first whistle and they made it hard for us, but we came through it on penalties and now we look forward to Sunday.''

The season has been Sweeney's first full campaign after being a peripherial figure since emerging from the youth team.

A run of 12 games at the end of the campaign and a goal in last season's play-off with Bristol City showed he could cut it in League One and he's now a first-team regular at Victoria Park.

Leading Pool into the Championship would cap off a memorable year.

He said: "The last 12 months have been amazing for me. If someone had said to me a year ago that I would have played so many games and then have a game like this to look forward to I would have laughed at them.

"The season has been fantastic for me.

"We beat Sheffield Wednesday the other week 3-0 but that counts for nothing - the conditions were awful that night and this is a different story now.

* Pool fans have until noon today to ensure tickets can be processed and issued.

They are available at www.seetickets.com or by telephoning 0870 060 1030.

Read more about Hartlepool here.