There was a time not so long ago when Rotherham looked near-certainties to earn a bounce-back promotion to the Championship given the size of their lead over third place and lower in League One.
However, a run of one victory in five third-tier fixtures has put the Millers not only at risk of losing top spot to Wigan Athletic, but being caught by MK Dons.
Paul Warne will be happy to ignore league matters for a weekend, watching on with interest as their rivals get another game under their belts, and it gives the Yorkshire outfit a chance to focus on trying to win some silverware.
Rotherham have certainly reached the final the hard way, prevailing in three penalty shootouts against Port Vale, Cambridge United and Hartlepool United at different stages of the competition.
Warne’s side also had to come behind on two occasions in the last-four showdown with the latter of those teams, and they would definitely be regarded as deserved winners if they can get over the line on Sunday.
The same can be said of a Sutton side who have enjoyed a dream-like run to Wembley in their first-ever appearance in this competition.
Like Rotherham, Sutton required penalties to reach the upcoming North London showpiece, upsetting Wigan Athletic on their travels and preventing a top-two League One battle from taking centre stage.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic of their EFL Trophy streak is just two goals being conceded in seven matches, particularly when you consider that they have been combining their efforts in this tournament with an unlikely promotion bid in League Two.
Matt Gray’s team have recently lost three of five matches to drop off the pace, but such was their form during the middle part of the season that it has not been enough to leave them out of contention.
Unsurprisingly, these two teams will be meeting in their first-ever competitive encounter at the weekend
