TONY PULIS is calling on the Spirit of Teesside to help Middlesbrough’s players get the win that will guarantee a play-off place in the race for the Premier League.

The Riverside Stadium is expecting its biggest crowd since Pulis took over when Millwall travel to the North-East for Saturday evening’s kick-off, when the Lions will bring around 1,100 of their own fans all hoping to see them climb back into the top six.

It is an intriguing final home game of the regular Championship season and one which the experienced Pulis is looking forward to – knowing exactly what is at stake over the next few weeks.

“We need the roof to come off because it is a great help for the players and it would be fantastic,” said Pulis.

“It’s what I want, a hostile place, that atmosphere, everyone wants it. The players want to really feel that togetherness. Especially when we are under pressure a little bit, it’s brilliant when things are going well.

“The great thing about the supporters was the Bristol City game, when we went a goal down, the attitude and commitment to the players on the pitch was shown in bundles.

"That helped us without a question of a doubt - that helps players. We had a feeling that day that we were all together, irrespective of anything else.”

Pulis was the manager who led Stoke City up to the Premier League in 2008 and he knows exactly what it feels like to have the backing of supporters.

The Potters fans were a major factor in keeping them in the Premier League under his watch, with sound meters regularly recording that Stoke’s fans at the Britannia Stadium during that period were the loudest under in the league.

The fact that Middlesbrough hope to have an attendance in excess of 30,000 for the first time this season highlights how there has been progress over the last few weeks, with promotion very much in their own hands again.

“When I first went in at Stoke there were 9,000 people going in, you build it up over time,” said Pulis. “What I am saying here is you need time to clear the foundations, to build something that is solid for a long time.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. We are in a fantastic position and we have to grasp it, it is something we should grasp. That’s what we want to do, that’s our aim. The players have performed exceptionally well over the last couple of weeks. They have gone to a different level and hopefully they can continue that.

“What happened at Stoke more than anything else, we got in to the Premier League and we were written off, not just us but the area. Everyone got together and thought we are not going to have this. It’s very similar in many respects to this area … if you prick it there’s always a reaction.

“That’s what you want. You want the supporters to give you that reaction and hopefully everyone turns up tomorrow and the atmosphere is first class.

“We have done things softly, softly, slowly, slowly since we came in. We have to put things in place for a few years. It’s not all about today, tomorrow, it’s about building something where everyone will be happy who is connected with it.

“If I can get them to a stage where this club is in the Premier League, competing for cup competitions, then I will be a happy man.”

Pulis was keen to stress the importance of having the fans’ backing ahead of the Millwall test because he has been hugely impressed with the supporters in the last few games in particular.

He said: “The supporters must turn up and get behind the team and we have to make it that kind of cup tie atmosphere. They have been fantastic since I came here, the reaction at Derby was first class for 90 mins. We need that at home too. We need their support and togetherness. Hopefully that will galvanise us.

“The crowd was fantastic against Bristol City. We fell behind and the crowd were fantastic from there on in. They picked the baton up. If there had been a different reaction there might have been a different reaction from the players.”

Millwall are three points shy of fifth-placed Middlesbrough and need the points to stand a chance of climbing back in following Derby’s victory over Cardiff in midweek.

Pulis welcomes back Patrick Bamford into the mix after he was forced to sit out the win at Pride Park last weekend following the concussion he suffered during the Bristol City game. Britt Assombalonga scored in his absence against the Rams.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “Patrick is fit. I have a decision to make. It’s a lovely headache. I wish Rudy was fit as well and that adds to the worries you might have. We need those players fit, we need as much competition as we can possibly get.

“Britt played well. We are pleased with him. But there are no two games the same, I have never managed two games the same. Saturday is fresh and the lads have to recognise unless we go out and work very hard then Millwall will take advantage. It’s a really tough game. You have to approach in right manner.”