THIS morning Aitor Karanka and his Middlesbrough squad will fly to London after four days warm weather training in Marbella. Tomorrow morning, the final countdown will have started towards the first leg of the club’s Championship play-off semi-final with Brentford.

Of the four teams still competing for a place in the Premier League via the Wembley route, the Bees are the biggest surprise package but not by those who have watched them this season.

Chief football writer Paul Fraser chatted with Stuart Amos, a lifelong Brentford supporter and correspondent for the Richmond and Twickenham Times, to get the inside track on the strengths and weaknesses Middlesbrough will face at Griffin Park on Friday and then a week later at the Riverside.

The first eleven

David Button, aged 26, goalkeeper
He has been regularly labelled as the best goalkeeper in the Championship by his manager, Mark Warburton. He has been outstanding this season and that followed on from keeping more clean sheets than any other keeper last season in League One.

Moses Odubajo, 21, right-back
He was signed last summer after his lightning fast pace in League One caught the eye of the Bees. He was a winger for Leyton Orient but has played as a forward-thinking full-back under Warburton. His speed makes up for defensive gaps.

James Tarkowski, 22, centre-back
When Brentford signed him from Oldham he had a number of Premier League clubs looking at him, including Liverpool. He is prone to the odd mistake but is a very quick defender capable of keeping a tight rein of the runners looking to get beyond him.

Harlee Dean, 23, centre-back
The 6ft 3in defender is a big friend of Chelsea skipper John Terry – who shares the same agent - and his no-nonsense approach bares similarities to the former England man. Dean reads the game very well.

Jake Bidwell, 22, left-back
The former Everton youngster has played all but four of Brentford’s 46 league games and is known as Mr Dependable despite his relatively young age. He is a real fans’ favourite for his excellent performances.

Jonathon Douglas, 33, centre-midfield
The most experienced player in the starting line-up is effectively the side’s midfield general who makes them tick. The former Blackburn and Leeds man has scored eight times this season despite tending to sit more than he moves forward.

Toumani Diagouraga, 27, centre-midfield
The Frenchman has enjoyed something of a revival so is known as Mr Renaissance having spent the last two months of last season on loan at Portsmouth. He was rewarded with the supporters’ player of the year award last weekend, where many have labelled him the Patrick Vieira of the Championship.

Jota, 23, right-midfield
He was signed from Celta Vigo last summer and is a very accomplished forward who will pop up anywhere in the final third. Up until a few weeks ago Brentford had won all of the games when the Spaniard had scored; they have still never lost when he has hit any of his 11 goals.

Alex Pritchard, 22, centre-attacking-midfield
An England Under-21 international who will play in the Premier League next season regardless of whether he helps Brentford up. He was named in the PFA’s Championship team of the year for his 12 goals and numerous assists. He is the Bees’ biggest threat. Tends to make way for Northern Ireland’s Stuart Dallas in the second half.

Alan Judge, 26, left-midfield
The ex-Blackburn winger has a boundless amount of energy and runs all day which is a key component of the team fielded by Warburton. His return of just three goals is poor for a winger this season and he should have scored more, but he has created plenty to make up it.

Andre Gray, 23, striker
He was signed from Luton Town last summer after scoring 30 goals in the Conference and he has continued in that form by hitting 17 in the Championship. He has combined well with Judge, Pritchard and Jota despite the fact he was not expected to play as much until Scott Hogan ruptured knee ligaments in the second game of the season.

Key battles

Alex Pritchard v Grant Leadbitter
Pritchard has shown real quality this season and the Boro midfield will have a difficult job tracking him. Leadbitter could tend to be the one sitting deeper, so he will be conscious of conceding free-kicks in key areas because of the Tottenham youngster’s accuracy from the dead ball.

Jake Bidwell v Albert Adomah
Boro’s Ghanaian winger really came to life in the final few weeks of the season before the trip to Fulham so if he is in that sort of mood again then his tussle with Brentford’s brilliant Bidwell will be fantastic to watch. Bidwell has kept most wingers quiet and he will be confident of doing the same to Adomah.

Harlee Dean v Patrick Bamford
Dean is a powerful unit which has caused big problems for attackers across the Championship. He is not the type to use dirty tricks when the officials are not looking, but he has not needed to. Bamford will know he is in for a battle early on, which could be a problem for him if he is carrying an ankle knock.

The Bees manager and his tactics

Mark Warburton The 52-year-old is idolised by Brentford fans but that is unlikely to see him stay at Griffin Park beyond this play-off surge regardless of the outcome. Nobody wants him to leave, except for the decision makers at the top.

Warburton has got Brentford playing with freedom which has brought confidence to new heights in a young side which have no hang-ups about attacking, with Douglas and Diagouraga holding things together.

It will be a shame if Warburton – who ironically operated in the sporting director role at the club - leaves but he is unwilling to work to a continental approach to transfers.

Brentford owner Matthew Benham wants a change of direction and is keen to focus more on statistics than scouting on the recruitment process. That was behind Brentford’s move for Jota and that’s the direction they want for the future.

Warburton wants a greater say on transfers so is set for a departure. Middlesbrough stand in his way of leaving on the back of a Premier League promotion party.