This time last year, Dons skipper Keith Andrews was preparing for a play-off semi-final second leg against Shrewsbury at the National Hockey Stadium.

Heading into the game with the tie goalless, the Dons were the favourites to sweep the Shrews aside and face Bristol Rovers at the new Wembley for a place in League 1.

It was a night that ended in heartbreak, despite Andrews' seemingly-crucial equaliser with 15 minutes to go, as Andy Cooke's double confided MK to another season in the League's bottom tier.

Fast-forward a year and the Dons are now looking forward to League 1 football next season, having gone up as champions, and even made up for missing out on Wembley by winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy there in March.

This time around, it's Stockport, Rochdale, Darlington and Wycombe scrapping it out for the final promotion spot and Andrews says he's much happier watching the play-offs than playing in them.

Dale host Darlo in a noon showdown on Saturday before Wycombe travel to Stockport for a six o'clock kick-off, with both the winners heading to Wembley for the May 26 final.

Andrews told mkdons.com: "To already have two weeks of holiday under your belt while these teams are still playing is obviously a bit of a bonus!

"But seriously, watching the play-offs now just shows you how important it was we secured automatic promotion. They're an absolute lottery.

"As we saw last year when we went out to Shrewsbury, the best team over the course of the season doesn't necessarily go through.

Despite his goal on the night, Keith and the team suffered play-off heartbreak against Shrewsbury last season.

"But on the other hand, if we were to just nip into the play-offs late next season it'd be a different scenario. When you're in and around the automatic positions all season and then drop into the play-offs it's a different type of feeling.

"In some cases you'd be delighted to get into the play-offs, in other cases not."

As for this year's hopefuls, there are two teams that have, at some point or other, been involved in the automatic promotion shake-up just as the Dons were last year.

And while Darlington and Stockport both hold the apparent advantage after the first leg, Andrews is backing Rochdale to end their 34-year stay in the bottom division.

He said: "I think Darlington will find it tough at Rochdale. Rochdale have got some good players and play very attacking football, but on the flip side of that, Darlington have a good defensive record.

"I think Rochdale will just about edge it and on the other game, I'll go for Stockport but it's going to be tight.

"I'll go for Rochdale to win the final and, to be fair to them, it wouldn't be a bad thing as they're a side that tries to play football in the right way.

"They did the double over us last season, though I think they'd admit they were a bit fortunate in both games. But credit to them, they've done very well on limited resources."